Bu Kasur objects to ad cartoon

Bu Kasur objects to ad cartoon

JAKARTA: A cigarette advertising campaign featuring cartoon characters has been criticized by parents and educationists who believe the commercial could encourage children to smoke.

The Sampoerna cigarette ad, featuring various animal cartoons dancing to simple music, is aired on local television stations at any time of the day. Billboards also form part of the campaign.

Bu Kasur, a children's education specialist, demanded on Friday that the TV station stop the commercial because it could have a "negative impact" on children's psychological development.

"I appeal to TV stations to stop the ad otherwise they help encourage children to smoke," she said.

Lately, local media have run letters from readers who object to the cigarette ad.

HM Sampoerna uses the animated characters, including animals such as ants, roosters, snails and squid, to advertise Sampoerna Mild. --Antara