North Sumatra Bans Civil Servants and Regional-Owned Enterprise Employees from Using Vapes

The Provincial Government of North Sumatra has issued a policy banning the use of electronic cigarettes or vapes for all State Civil Apparatus (ASN) and employees of Regional-Owned Enterprises (BUMD) within its territory. This policy was adopted as a preventive measure to protect the public from the potential misuse of narcotics and long-term health impacts.

Head of the North Sumatra Communication and Information Office, Erwin Hotmansah Harahap, revealed that the ban is stipulated in North Sumatra Governor Instruction Number 188.54/3/INST/2026, addressed to all regents and mayors across North Sumatra.

“This regulation is a response to a study by the BNN. Based on the BNN’s findings, electronic cigarettes are suspected to be vulnerable to misuse as a medium for the circulation of liquid narcotics and other hazardous substances,” he said on Tuesday (16/6).

He continued that this instruction also serves as an anticipatory step to protect the public, particularly the younger generation, from the dangers of drug abuse, as well as the long-term health impacts of using electronic cigarettes or vapes.

Through this instruction, the North Sumatra Provincial Government is instructing district/city governments to conduct strict supervision and monitoring in their respective areas. For ASN, non-ASN, or BUMD employees found violating the rule, local governments are asked to impose disciplinary sanctions in accordance with applicable laws and regulations.

In addition to internal oversight, local governments are also requested to install signs prohibiting vape use in strategic areas that are easily accessible and readable by the general public. Not only targeting the government environment, the provincial government also requests that similar bans be applied more broadly.

District/city governments are asked to issue appeals to various other elements of society, ranging from community organisations, tourism businesses such as hotels and restaurants, labour unions, transportation companies, sports organisations, to hospitals, to also prohibit the use of vapes for their employees or members.