Campaign targets teenage smoking<\/p>\n
Wahyoe Boediwardhana, Kuta, Bali<\/p>\n
The message is clear: teenagers should not smoke. That is the
\nslogan of a campaign launched by two multinational giants, a
\nconvenience store franchise company and one of the leading
\ncigarette producers in the world.<\/p>\n
The companies, PT Circle K Indonesia (PT CKI) and PT Philip
\nMorris Indonesia (PT PMI), launched the anti-smoking campaign
\nlast year and have decided to extend their commitment to prevent
\npeople under 18 years of age from smoking.<\/p>\n
Derajat Kusuma Negara, public relations manager of PT PMI --
\nwhich produces cigarette brands Marlboro, Longbeach and L&M for
\nIndonesia -- said the companies were committed to restricting the
\nsale of cigarettes to teenagers.<\/p>\n
\"We believe that smoking is only for adults. Our motive is
\nclear: we don't want teenagers under 18 years to smoke,\" he told
\nreporters in Seminyak, Kuta.<\/p>\n
PT CKI president director Nyoman Gunadi said since the program
\nwas launched last March, it had received many positive responses
\nfrom the public.<\/p>\n
\"Teen smokers are a complex problem and we want to take part
\nin the efforts to prevent it,\" he said, adding that the program
\nhas been implemented successfully in 65 Circle K outlets
\nthroughout Indonesia.<\/p>\n
The seriousness of their commitment in implementing the
\nprogram is evident in the company's training program for all CKI
\nstaff across the country, which teaches them how to respond to
\nunderage customers wanting to buy cigarettes -- turn them down
\nfirmly, but politely.<\/p>\n
\"If necessary, they should ask customers who appear to be
\nunderage for their identity cards,\" Gunadi said, adding that
\nstaff were trained to make the request politely.<\/p>\n
PT CKI has also implemented an internal policy against staff
\nfound to have sold cigarettes to minors, he said.<\/p>\n
PT CKI and PT PMI have also distributed stickers warning
\nagainst minors smoking to more than 280 cigarette vendors in 49
\ncities.<\/p>\n
The anti-smoking campaign targeting minors is also being
\nconducted in cooperation with several leading supermarkets and
\nconvenient stores, including PT Hero Group.<\/p>\n
Derajat said PT PMI had conducted the campaign along with 100
\nHero supermarket outlets last year. This year, more than 1,000
\nretailers are expected to take part in the campaign.<\/p>\n
He said while the anti-smoking campaign targeting teenagers
\nhad resulted in a decline in cigarettes sales, he was not
\nworried, as the adult market was still solid.<\/p>\n
The campaign against teenage smoking is supported by the
\nBadung administration and the Balinese capital of Denpasar.<\/p>\n
\"The use of drugs among teenagers has much to do with picking
\nup smoking at an early age,\" said I Ketut Pastika Dana, head of
\nthe National Unity and People's Welfare of Badung regency.<\/p>\n
PT PMI supports about 100 campaigns in 90 countries to prevent
\nteenage smoking, focusing on public awareness and education and
\ndrafting laws that ban cigarette sales to minors.<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/campaign-targets-teenage-smoking-1447893297",
"image": ""
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
"sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com"
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