Cigarette prices set to rise again

By Stevie Emilia

JAKARTA (JP): A man reaching for his usual brand of cigarettes at a kiosk on Jl. M.H. Thamrin hesitated. "That's impossible, I paid Rp 1,800 yesterday and now it's Rp 2,500," he said.

He handed back the packet of Sampoerna A Mild and walked away.

Cigarette prices already increased a month ago, but smokers will be reaching even deeper into their pockets when a government decree raising retail prices of all brands of cigarettes by between 60 percent and 120 percent comes into effect Wednesday.

The government, pressed for cash in times of an economic crisis, is punishing smokers as well as drinkers by hiking their duties to bolster its revenues.

Given the addictive nature of cigarette, few people are expected to quit smoking just because the prices double.

Some smokers however are adjusting in different ways, like switching to cheaper brands.

Gunawan, a bank worker, said he had switched from Marlboro to Sampoerna -- because the former brand had become both harder to find, and beyond his means.

Marlboro can still be found at some street stalls but at an unbelievable Rp 5,000 for a twenty-pack instead of the usual Rp 2,200, said Gunawan, who has smoked since junior high school and has no intention to quit.

Popular brands have already disappeared from supermarket shelves. Typically, supermarket checkout counters only have two or three of the lesser popular names.

"I'm sorry, but we no longer have Dunhill," said a cashier at Hero supermarket in Plaza Senayan mall to a customer.

"I bought three cartons of Virginia Slims right after I read the news in a newspaper," said Intan, an employee at a private bank. "I think I should buy more, or I will have to pay double the usual price," said Intan, who took up smoking when she attended university.

Switching brands has its own problems. David, a university student, said he had been coughing all night after switching to a local, cheaper brand.

"I'll have to look for another brand again," he said.

Prices of local kretek (clove-blended cigarette) brands have also soared before the decree becomes effective.

Gudang Garam and Djarum Super, normally costing Rp 1,400 a pack, now sell for up to Rp 2,000, while Djie Sam Soe, previously Rp 2,200 a pack, sells for up to Rp 3,000 a pack.

High prices are far from good news for cigarette vendors.

"I sell fewer than 10 packs now. I used to sell four cartons a day," said Ahmad, a vendor in Bendungan Hilir in Central Jakarta. Each carton contains 10 packets of cigarettes.

Some people, usually those with less money to burn, have kicked the habit all together, while others are cutting down.

Maman, a fruit seller in Bendungan Hilir market, had quit as soon as he learned that his brand had increased by Rp 1,500 per pack this month.

"I'd rather buy food for my children than pay that much," said Maman, who used to smoke two packs of Marlboro Lights a day.

He said giving it up was not easy. "My mouth feels dry and bitter, but I chew mint candies to remove the taste."

There are those who cheer the government's decree.

"I can save about Rp 75,000 a month from my family budget as my husband has quit smoking," said Halimah, whose husband is a tailor.

Anti-smoking campaigners also laud the move.

The Indonesian Women Against Tobacco (WITT) says the decree is expected to indirectly help its cause to protect women and teenagers against the "ills" of tobacco.

"We're very happy because it will make more people stop smoking," said Enny Sukamto Hehuwat, WITT's deputy chairwoman.

WITT is affiliated with the United States-based International Network for Women Against Tobacco.

Once a smoker herself, top model Enny knows too well the odds of kicking the habit. "One should have strong willpower and support from others to stop smoking. And once you stop, never try it again," said Enny, who used to smoke two packs a day.

She quit seven years ago after she discovered that cigarettes made her skin dry, her hair smell and ruined her clothes. Now Enny appears in a TV commercial for a body lotion.

The Indonesian Medical Association (IDI) has been campaigning for greater restrictions, not an outright ban, which it realized would be impossible.

IDI chairman Merdias Almatsier said the association in its congress in Padang last year called for restriction in the use of tobacco, including cigarettes, by people, especially children.