Forum Warga Kota Educates Children on Risks of Sugary Drinks
Forum Warga Kota (FAKTA) Indonesia used the commemoration of National Children’s Day 2026 to educate children and parents about the importance of limiting the consumption of sugar-sweetened beverages (MBDK).
The event, themed ‘Children Are Not the Target Market for Sugar-Sweetened Beverages’, was held during the Car-Free Day in Central Jakarta on Sunday and was attended by hundreds of children from Jakarta, Bogor, and Bekasi.
FAKTA Indonesia Chairman Ari Subagio Wibowo stated that the activity aims to educate children so they are able to choose healthy drinks. “We want them to understand the adverse effects of consuming excessive amounts of sugar-sweetened beverages,” he said.
Ari emphasised that early education is necessary to raise children’s awareness in selecting healthier drinks and to reduce the risk of diseases caused by excessive sugar consumption. He added that this effort requires the involvement of parents and the school environment. Parents are expected to encourage their children to drink water, while schools can provide healthier drink options in canteens.
Beyond education, FAKTA Indonesia reiterated its proposal for the government to impose an excise tax on sugar-sweetened beverages as a tool to suppress consumption and support the prevention of non-communicable diseases. “We hope the state will be present through the MBDK excise policy so that public health protection, especially for children, becomes stronger,” Ari said.
FAKTA Indonesia Deputy Chairman Azas Tigor Nainggolan noted that the Car-Free Day momentum was chosen because it effectively reaches a broad segment of the public and serves as an effective space to improve health literacy. He stressed that children are a group that needs protection from exposure to MBDK promotions, urging the government to tighten supervision of advertising targeting children. “Today, together with the children, we urge the government to immediately implement the MBDK excise as a preventive measure so that Indonesian children grow up healthy. This is an investment for the nation’s future,” Tigor said.