Indonesian government urged to strengthen measures to control tobacco products

JAKARTA (Vietnam News/ANN): The Indonesian Ministry of Women's Empowerment and Child Protection has called on the government to strengthen regulatory measures to control tobacco products.

On the World No Tobacco Day that falls on May 31, the ministry urged the government to issue stricter systematic regulations relating to tobacco.

Now, the Indonesian government is discussing the draft regulations on health including rules requiring those producing, importing, and distributing tobacco products to obtain a licence.

The ministry also proposed a prohibition on the sale of tobacco products and electric cigarettes to those under 21 and pregnant women.

In addition, it urged the government to ban tobacco advertisements and use tobacco products to sponsor social welfare programmes.

Indonesia’s 2023 National Health Survey found the prevalence of smoking in the 10–18 age group at 14.3% for boys and 0.2% for girls.

Notably, in recent years, the Indonesian youth has increasingly used electric cigarettes as the habit is promoted as a cool lifestyle choice for the young by advertisements.

Moreover, the industry is constantly appealing to the youth to smoke through creative approaches, for example, making them believe that smoking electric cigarettes is a way to express their maturity and confidence.

To curb the smoking among the youth, child-friendly cities and districts are suggested to develop smoke-free areas. Municipal authorities are urged to tighten control and prevent the sale of tobacco to minors.

In households, parents are urged to quit smoking and regularly talk with their children to understand them properly and prevent them from smoking. - Vietnam News/ANN