Indonesian survey confirms heavy smoking

More than 67 percent of adult men in Indonesia smoke tobacco products, according to the Global Adult Tobacco Survey (GATS), reports the Jakarta Post.

In 1995, the National Social Economic Survey reported a figure of 53.9 percent.

The GATS’ 2011 report also shows that about 60 million people, or 34.8 percent of all adults, were active smokers.

Health Minister Nafsiah Mboi said the Indonesian government was embarrassed to hear the findings.

“It means we have been defeated by the tobacco industry. This is unacceptable,” she said.

According to the study, each adult smoker consumes an average of almost 13 cigarettes each day, 31.5 percent of which are clove cigarettes. Meanwhile, 2.9 million people use smokeless tobacco products.