Lack of Government Action Against Smoking Habit
Published on June 7, 2010 6:40 AM
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It is beyond doubt that cigarettes smoking can harm the smokers and even non-smokers health. Even though, the Indonesian government is still not sure what kind of measure to take only to limit tobacco use in all public places and to prohibit cigarette advertising is also a doubt.
More shocking data is that in every year, more and more women, children, and even young people become addicted to nicotine which can be found in every smoking product. So, every year the future generation is guided to death through the government inaction.
According to a recent survey conducted by the World Health Organization from 2006 to 2009 found that approximately 88.4 percent of Indonesian girls were exposed to cigarette advertisements on billboards and almost more than 87 percent of them were exposed to secondhand cigarettes smoke in all public areas.
Scientists found also that in general tobacco companies are among the biggest advertisers in Indonesia. For example, advertisings for flavored cigarettes are among the top five, with PT Gudang Garam the third-biggest buyer of television commercial slots, with total wasting of Rp 73 billion ($7.9 million).
Statistics show that Indonesia is one of only three countries that still permit cigarette advertisements and position third after China and India as the countries with the highest number of cigarettes smokers.
The stab in growth of beginner smokers in Indonesia cannot be isolated from the country’s weak legislations and severe law pressure on tobacco use. Even the government has shown that no political will to take on the strong and powerful tobacco companies in spite of a growing public protest.
So, if any action is not taken to decrease smoking, this main problem will worsen in the coming years. And more and more inhabitants will become informed of the bad effects of the smoking habit, and it is only a concern of time before this grows into a national problem.
Scientists concluded that all politicians who stayed silent and refused to take a strong measure on smoking will find themselves voted out come election time.
They consider that it is time for the government to act against the cigarettes makers.
