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Indonesia’s Tobacco Crisis: Children Growing Up Addicted to Cigarettes
Indonesia is facing one of the world’s most alarming child smoking crises, with millions of children exposed to tobacco from an early age in a country where cigarettes are cheap, widely advertised, and deeply embedded in daily life.
Unlike most nations, Indonesia has not ratified the World Health Organization’s Framework Convention on Tobacco Control, and its relatively weak regulations have allowed tobacco companies to market aggressively — often in ways that appeal directly to young people.
As a result, Indonesia has one of the highest rates of child smokers globally. Children as young as five have been documented smoking, while many teenagers report becoming addicted before reaching secondary school.
Cheap Cigarettes and Early Addiction
One of the main drivers of child smoking in Indonesia is affordability. Individual cigarettes are commonly sold singly rather than in packs, making them accessible to children with just a few coins. For families living on low incomes, cigarettes are often cheaper than basic food items.
Kretek cigarettes — clove-flavoured and uniquely Indonesian — are especially popular. Often perceived as traditional or less harmful, they are widely consumed by both adults and children despite containing high levels of tar and nicotine.
Health experts warn that early exposure dramatically increases the risk of lifelong addiction, as well as serious illnesses including heart disease, lung cancer, and chronic respiratory conditions.
Advertising Targets the Young
Tobacco advertising remains widespread across Indonesia. Billboards, shopfronts, music festivals, sports sponsorships, and social media campaigns regularly promote smoking as a symbol of masculinity, success, and independence.
Although some restrictions exist, advertisements are still commonly placed near schools and residential areas. Critics argue that these campaigns normalise smoking for children, portraying it as a rite of passage rather than a dangerous habit.
Public health advocates say the imagery is particularly damaging in a country where over half of adult men smoke, making cigarettes a visible part of everyday family life.
Poverty, Peer Pressure, and Parental Influence
In many Indonesian households, smoking is culturally accepted, and children often grow up watching parents, relatives, and community leaders smoke openly. This normalisation, combined with peer pressure, makes it difficult for young people to resist.
For families living in poverty, tobacco spending can also deepen hardship. Studies have shown that low-income households may spend a significant portion of their earnings on cigarettes, diverting money away from nutrition, education, and healthcare.
Children in these environments are not only more likely to smoke but also more likely to suffer from second-hand smoke exposure, which increases the risk of asthma, infections, and developmental problems.
Health Consequences and a Strained System
Indonesia’s healthcare system is already under strain from tobacco-related illnesses. Doctors warn that rising child smoking rates will fuel a future public health emergency, with younger generations facing chronic disease earlier in life.
Paediatricians report seeing children with nicotine dependence, breathing problems, and reduced physical stamina — conditions rarely associated with childhood in many other countries.
Public health groups say prevention is far cheaper than treatment, but meaningful reform has been slow.
Calls for Reform
Local and international organisations are urging the Indonesian government to introduce tougher tobacco controls, including higher taxes, comprehensive advertising bans, plain packaging, and a ban on single cigarette sales.
There have been some positive steps, such as smoke-free zones in certain cities and increased public awareness campaigns. However, campaigners argue these measures are not enough to counter the influence of a powerful tobacco industry.
Without stronger regulation, they warn, Indonesia risks losing another generation to addiction.
A Childhood at Risk
For many Indonesian children, smoking is not a distant adult choice but an everyday reality shaped by environment, economics, and culture. Health experts stress that protecting children from tobacco is not just a medical issue, but a moral and social responsibility.
As global attention grows, the question remains whether Indonesia will act decisively — or continue to allow its youngest citizens to grow up in the shadow of cigarettes.
Attached is a news article regarding children smoking in Indonesia
https://edition.cnn.com/2017/08/30/health/chain-smoking-children-tobacco-indonesia
Article written and configured by Christopher Stanley
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