Chair of Central Java DPRD Commission Supports Proposal to Ban Vapes

SEMARANG – The Chair of Commission E of the Central Java Provincial DPRD, Messy Widiastuti, supports the proposal to ban electronic cigarettes or vapes after they are suspected of being used as a medium for consuming narcotics. The areas under Commission E of the Central Java DPRD include health, youth and sports, as well as child protection.

Messy stated that, as someone with a medical education background, she supports the idea of banning vapes. This is because Messy admitted to following the issue of vape misuse.

“So, electronic cigarettes filled with chemicals are now suspected to contain addictive substances, substances that cause people to become addicted,” Messy revealed when interviewed at the Central Java DPRD Office in Semarang City on Thursday (16/4/2026).

Messy said she had received reports from the Chair of the Anti-Drug People’s Movement (GERAM) regarding the circulation of several new types of narcotics. “They mentioned that there are now many new groups that are not yet included in the list of prohibited drugs in Indonesia. Therefore, we must act quickly, as these narcotics can change or have many modifications, so we must pay attention. Therefore, vapes must also be banned,” she said.

According to her, there are many benefits if vapes are banned. One of the most important is the health of the younger generation. “Will people addicted to narcotics become good or bad? It damages themselves and their environment, right?” she said.

In certain cases, Messy added, people who are addicted may also act desperately when they cannot access narcotics. “Therefore, if banned, it will certainly be good because it damages the health of the citizens,” she said.

Regarding the existence of people who currently make a living from the vape business, Messy suggested that they switch to other businesses. “Narcotics are destructive; you get money but destroy society, how about that?” she said.

Previously, the Head of the National Narcotics Agency (BNN), Commissioner General Suyudi Ario Seto, proposed that vapes be banned. He assessed that vapes are prone to misuse for consuming narcotics.

“It is a great hope for BNN that the vape ban can be implemented in Indonesia, because vapes have been proven to be misused as a medium to be filled with etomidate,” Suyudi said during a public hearing (RDPU) at Commission III of the Indonesian House of Representatives when discussing the Narcotics and Psychotropics Bill, on Tuesday (7/4/2026).