Antara reports that the smoking rate in Indonesia is as high as 33.5%. The country’s Ministry of Health is concerned about the high levels of vaping. The ministry is now calling for stricter tobacco control measures.
Two Factors Influencing High Smoking Rates
Eva Susanti, the director of non-communicable disease prevention and control at the Ministry of Health, identified two factors contributing to the popularity of smoking in Indonesia. Firstly, the affordability of cigarettes, and secondly, the lenient advertising regulations which allow tobacco companies to market their products extensively.
Susanti stressed the need for higher taxes on tobacco products and vapes, which have also gained popularity in Indonesia. She highlighted the rise in e-cigarette usage from 0.3 percent to 3 percent of the population.
In order to combat this issue, Susanti proposed that the increased tobacco taxes be used to support smoking control efforts and improve stop-smoking services across all districts and cities in Indonesia.
She also mentioned plans for a collaborative effort between the Ministry of Health, the Ministry of Finance, the Ministry of Industry, and the Coordinating Ministry for Human Development and Culture. This effort aims to monitor cigarette advertisements, enforce excise duties, and combat the illegal cigarette market.
