TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - Smoke-Free Agents representative Hasna Pradityas said that his organization, along with Lentera Anak Indonesia (LAI) and Child Media Development Agency (YPMA), has discovered cigarette ads invasion to school environment.
“We have evidence showing cigarette ads and promotion nearby schools,” said Hasna Pradityas on Tuesday June 16. He added that cigarette industry has intensively put on ads and promotion in nearly all cities in Indonesia.
Hasna said that the ads were driven by the need from producers to gain new smokers. “Gradually, cigarette industry is losing its smokers due to quitting. Therefore, it starts promoting its products to kids and women,” Hasna said.
Psychologist and hypnotherapy expert, Liza Marielly Dijaprie, said that the finding shows that cigarette industry is trying to perform propaganda through advertisement and promotion. “This will drive kids and teenagers to put into perspective that smoking is cool. This is a wrong perception,” he said.
MAYA NAWANGWULAN