Indonesia Bans Single Stick Sales

Indonesia has banned the sale of individual cigarettes and raised the minimum purchase age to 21 from 18, reports Reuters. Its new rules also mandate restrictions on tobacco and e-cigarette marketing; large, pictorial warning labels on tobacco products; and bans on the sale of tobacco and e-cigarettes near schools and playgrounds. In addition, it includes new restrictions on social media sales.

The rules are intended to reduce smoking prevalence and prevent young people from taking up the habit. With 70 million smokers in a population of 270 million, Indonesia has one of the world’s highest smoking rates. The country also struggles with a high level of underage smoking. A 2023 survey revealed that 7.4 percent of smokers are between the ages of 10 to 18, with 15-19 being the age group with the most smokers.

Health Minister Budi Gunadi Sadikin emphasized that the new rules represent a significant step forward in strengthening Indonesia’s health infrastructure.

“We welcome the issuance of this regulation, which will serve as a foundation for us to jointly reform and build the health system down to the farthest corners of the country,” he was quoted as saying by Xinhua.

The Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids too welcomed the new rules. In a statement, the organization urged the Indonesian government to dramatically raising tobacco prices, simplify the tobacco tax system and ban smoking indoor public places.

Henry Najoan of the cigarette factory association was quoted by news web site Kumparan as saying that the rules would destroy the tobacco industry.

According to the Ministry of Industry, Indonesia’s cigarette industry employs 5.98 million people, including 4.28 million workers in the manufacturing and distribution sector, and 1.7 million in tobacco cultivation.

Indonesia is one of the only countries in the world that has not signed the World Health Organization’s Framework Convention on Tobacco Control.