Indonesia Alarmed as Smoking Rate Rises to 33.5%

According to Antara News, Indonesia’s Ministry of Health is calling for stronger tobacco control measures, as the country’s smoking rate has reached 33.5%.

Eva Susanti, Director of Prevention and Control of Non-Communicable Diseases at the Ministry of Health, attributed the prevalence of smoking in part to the affordable price of cigarettes and the considerable marketing freedom enjoyed by tobacco companies in Indonesia.

She noted: “Promotional advertising for tobacco products remains highly prevalent, and advertising regulations are still very weak when it comes to protecting Indonesian youth and reducing the desire to smoke, especially among children and adolescents.”

Susanti also called for higher taxes on tobacco products and e-cigarettes, which are also becoming increasingly popular in Indonesia. She pointed out that e-cigarette use has risen from 0.3% to 3% of the population.

Susanti insisted that revenue from tobacco taxes should be used to support tobacco control efforts and to improve smoking cessation services across all regions and cities in Indonesia.

She said her department would work with the Ministry of Finance, the Ministry of Industry, and the Coordinating Ministry for Human Development and Cultural Affairs to monitor cigarette advertising, implement excise taxes, and crack down on illegal cigarettes.