IYCTC: Illegal Cigarette Adverts Besiege Schools in Jakarta

The latest findings from the Indonesian Youth Council for Tactical Changes (IYCTC) and a coalition of young people have revealed alarming facts regarding child health protection in Jakarta. A total of 99 per cent of outdoor cigarette advertisements in the capital were found to be within a 500-metre radius of schools, besieging the daily activities of tens of thousands of students. The findings were released just days after Jakarta celebrated its 499th anniversary. This situation is considered to be in violation of Government Regulation (PP) Number 28 of 2024 and DKI Jakarta Governor Regulation Number 1 of 2015, which prohibit outdoor cigarette billboards in the Jakarta area. IYCTC researcher Nalsali Ginting explained that the mapping was conducted on 315 cigarette advertising points in three densely populated sub-districts: Matraman, Tanah Abang, and Cilincing. “Of the total 315 outdoor cigarette advertising points found, almost all are located in stalls and shops in the form of micro-advertisements such as banners, posters, and stickers that students pass every day near their homes and schools,” Nalsali said. According to the findings, 84,551 students are exposed to tobacco promotion directly every day when going to and from school. The greatest exposure occurs in the most vulnerable age groups, namely 29,211 primary school students and 24,176 junior secondary school students. Matraman was recorded as the area with the highest level of violations. In this sub-district, 116 cigarette advertisements were found, all within a radius of less than 500 metres from schools and surrounding 109 schools. The density of advertisements reached 24 points per square kilometre. Meanwhile, in Tanah Abang, 102 advertisements were found near 104 schools. In Cilincing, 97 advertisements exposed up to 288 schools, including 123 kindergartens and primary schools. Nalsali assessed that the tobacco industry’s promotional strategy is increasingly aggressive in targeting young age groups. Based on the analysis, 61.8 per cent of advertisements displayed cheap prices below Rp 20,000, 44.1 per cent highlighted fruit-flavoured variants, and 40.2 per cent used striking colours that easily attract the attention of children and teenagers. “These advertisements are designed to match the purchasing power and interests of young people. Therefore, clearing a 500-metre zone from schools is an emergency measure that must be taken immediately to protect children from the risk of cigarette addiction,” he said. The findings were reinforced by a social audit conducted by Mutiara Hasriani, a delegate of the DKI Jakarta Youth Representative Council. The audit results showed that 61.2 per cent of retail shops and stalls around schools still violate zoning rules for cigarette sales near educational facilities. According to Mutiara, continuous exposure to advertising increases the likelihood of teenagers becoming active smokers by up to 1.67 times. She also highlighted the economic impact of cigarettes on low-income households. “Average per capita spending on cigarettes reaches Rp 111,546 per month, far greater than the combined spending on meat, eggs, and milk, which are crucial for preventing stunting in children,” she said. IYCTC Chairperson Manik Marganamahendra reminded that Jakarta has historically been a pioneer in smoke-free area policies that have inspired other regions. He therefore called for strengthened field supervision so that regulations do not remain merely written rules. “We need to expand community-based programmes such as Smoke-Free Villages. The involvement of youth organisations is also important to assist supervision down to the sub-district level,” he said. Francine Widjojo, a member of the DKI Jakarta Regional House of Representatives Commission B, proposed that restrictions should not only target advertising but also the sale of tobacco products within a 500-metre radius of schools. She also highlighted the prevalence of tobacco promotion through digital media frequently accessed by teenagers. Widjojo urged the imposition of strict fines of up to Rp 100 million for violators and a ban on the sale of single cigarette sticks, which she said makes it easier for schoolchildren to access tobacco products. “We ask that the role of the Civil Service Police Unit be strengthened so that rule enforcement is more effective in the field,” she said. Responding to these inputs, a representative from the Jakarta Health Office, Intan, affirmed the local government’s commitment to accelerating the completion of implementing regulations for Regional Regulation Number 7 of 2025 on Smoke-Free Areas. She said the draft of the Governor Regulation is currently in the finalisation stage and is targeted for completion next week. Data from the Health Office shows that around 36 per cent of junior and senior secondary school students in Jakarta have tried smoking, with the age of initiation recorded as early as seven years old. Through the Governor Regulation, the Jakarta Provincial Government plans to tighten controls on tobacco product promotion, including requiring cigarettes to be stored out of sight without displaying logos or brand colours in retail shops. The regulation will also include a mechanism for administrative fines against violators, which can be paid cashlessly via digital systems such as QRIS. “We are also encouraging the formation of a Smoke-Free Area Task Force involving cross-agency and community participation. Public complaints can be submitted through the JAKI application,” Intan said. Support for accelerating the issuance of the Governor Regulation also came from the Ministry of Health. Benget Saragih, Programme Manager for the Prevention and Control of Non-Communicable Diseases at the Ministry of Health, stated that early-age cigarette addiction contributes to the high burden of chronic diseases in Jakarta. He noted that cases of acute respiratory infections in Jakarta’s health facilities reached 641,906 patients, while essential hypertension cases reached 282,982 patients. “We encourage the DKI Jakarta Provincial Government to immediately pass the Smoke-Free Area Governor Regulation so that it aligns with the mandate of Government Regulation Number 28 of 2024,” he said.