It seems that government regulations do not have a meaningful impact on the efforts to tackle smoking in Indonesia. It can be seen from the increase in Indonesia’s ranking over the past two years, which is now the world’s third largest cigarette consumer behind China and India. Previously, Indonesia ranked the fifth.

In Jakarta, despite the existence of the city’s Bylaw No.2/2005 on Air Pollution Control and Gubernatorial Regulation No.88/2010 on No Smoking Area (which is the revision of the Bylaw No.75’2005), many people still arbitrarily smoke in prohibited areas.

"The existing regulations need supports from various parties, especially the public," said Deputy Head of Jakarta Tourism and Culture, Tinia Budiati in a talk show themed “Tanpa Rokok” or “Without Cigarettes” held in Soemantri Brodjonegoro building, Kuningan, Setiabudi, South Jakarta, Saturday (5/29).

This event, held to commemorate No Tobacco Day, was attended by around 2,000 students of Junior/Senior High/Vocational Schools (SMP/SMA/SMK).

Globally, World Health Organization (WHO) has declared 31 May as “No Tobacco Day” since 1988. The warning aims to attract the attention of the world community to tobacco epidemic.
 
She quite appreciated various activities that embraced all elements, and were intended to raise public awareness on the dangers of smoking. "The number of smokers increases annually. I hope the younger generation, including teenagers, to be able to avoid cigarettes and be good at selecting activities," she explained.

In the meantime, the Chairman of the National Commission on Tobacco Control, Nia Hanafi says there are a lot of negative impacts caused by cigarettes, both to the smokers (active smokers) and the people around them (passive smokers). This activity was also aimed at reminding people, women and teenagers in particular, about the dangers of smoking.

She revealed that children and women were the most vulnerable parties towards the impact of smoking epidemic, with as many as 43 million children and 60 million women in Indonesia as passive smokers. "Therefore, there must be intensive efforts to control smoking," she added. Nia hoped this activity could provide more knowledge to the participants, which later could be disseminated to others. 

Pratiwi Eka (17) an eleventh grader of State Vocational School (SMKN) 36 Jakarta admitted quite happy to participate in this event. "My school now institutes the regulation of no smoking area. (As a result), even the school principal does not smoke. It creates a healthy environment at my school," she told beritajakarta.com, Saturday.

(Berita Jakarta, 29/05/2010)