Cigarette taxes to fund anti-campaign

The Jakarta city administration is to target students and low-income residents in a new anti-smoking campaign funded by cigarette tax revenue, according to a story in The Jakarta Post.

Starting from next year, the city is expected to receive about IDR400 billion (US$35.2 million) a year in revenue from cigarette excise tax.

“We are currently discussing and fleshing out the anti-smoking programs, which comprise not only curative but also preventive measures,” the head of the Jakarta Health Agency, Dien Emmawati, was quoted as saying.

“Most smokers in the capital are low-income residents so we will focus on educating them. We will also target students.”

Dien said the funds allocated for anti-smoking programs would be distinct from those allocated for financing the city’s health care program, which this year amounted to IDR1.2 trillion.