WHO Urges Indonesian Lawmakers to Protect Youth from Tobacco

According to a report by Bisnis on May 31st, the World Health Organization (WHO) called on lawmakers and policy makers in Indonesia to protect the younger generation from the dangers of tobacco on World No Tobacco Day.

According to the official website of the World Health Organization in Indonesia, Indonesia has the highest tobacco use rates in the world, with 11 million young people using various tobacco products. A study conducted by the Indonesian government, based on the Global School-Based Student Health Survey, showed that tobacco use among adolescents aged 13 to 17 increased from 13.6% in 2015 to 23% in 2023.

Between 2011 and 2021, the usage rate of new nicotine and tobacco products among individuals aged 15 and above in Indonesia has increased tenfold, reaching 3% of the Indonesian population. By 2023, the usage rate of e-cigarettes among students aged 13 to 17 has reached 12.6%, significantly higher than that among the adult population.

World Health Organization representative Dr. N. Paranietharan stated during a press conference:

Indonesia is currently at a crucial juncture in terms of health and development, especially in regards to controlling the negative health, social, and economic impacts of tobacco and new nicotine products.

Currently, Indonesia ranks third from the bottom in the global tobacco industry interference index, indicating significant interference by the tobacco industry in policy-making. Indonesia is one of 12 countries that have not yet ratified the WHO Framework Convention on Tobacco Control, which empowers governments to combat interference by the tobacco industry.

However, Indonesia passed the Comprehensive Health Law last year and is in the process of revising the Broadcasting Law. Legislators and policy makers have the opportunity to protect the younger generation from the influence of the tobacco industry and accelerate Indonesia's health, social, and economic development.

The spokesperson emphasized that the Indonesian government should take a tough stance against the tobacco industry that harms public health and ensure that the regulations of comprehensive health laws include banning advertising, promotion, and sponsorship of tobacco and new nicotine and tobacco products on social media and the internet, especially activities targeting young people such as sports events, concerts, and art activities.

In addition, legislators also need to supplement proposals to ban the sale of new nicotine and tobacco products, as well as traditional tobacco products, to individuals under the age of 21. This includes prohibiting the sale of small packs of cigarettes, specifically those with fewer than 20 cigarettes per pack, and also banning the addition of flavorings to new nicotine and tobacco products to greatly reduce their appeal.

Finally, legislators need to establish and implement a unified tobacco tax system that applies to all types of tobacco and new nicotine and tobacco products, while also removing the 57% tax cap on retail prices. These two measures will enable legislators to increase tax rates to 75% or higher of retail prices, aligning with the best practices of the World Health Organization's MPOWER initiative.