Tobacco Industry Targets Regions Following Ads Bans in Jakarta  

TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - After Jakarta enforced cigarette advertising bans in 2015, the Indonesian Public Health Experts Association (IAKMI) observed several pattern changes in advertising strategies practiced by cigarette companies.

The organization found that over the last five years, cigarette industries have established several partnerships with traditional retail industries in in Bogor, Depok, Bekasi, and South Tangerang.

Read: Tobacco Control Commission Installs Anti-Cigarette Ads on Bus

IAKMI’s head of tobacco control Widyastuti Soerojo said the cigarette industries mostly provide cash to advertise their product in the form of cigarette banner ads, free cigarette samples, and cigarette display racks.

Widyastuti revealed that a certain tobacco giant has even disbursed extra incentives for its partners in the form of health insurances, electronic appliances, and store redecoration.

IAKMI conducted a research throughout July-December 2016 and announced their findings today.

Read: Padang Mayor Bans Cigarette Ads, Ready To Lose Rp4bn Revenue

The research suggests that 37 percent of 513 retail stores in 149 areas in four cities made partner by cigarette companies are located within less than 100 meters from schools.

98 percent of the retail stores that are hand-picked by cigarette industries are located in strategic areas.

ISTIQOMATUL HAYATI