Proposed ban on ads resisted

Proposed ban on ads resisted

SEMARANG, Central Java: The proposal to scrap cigarette
advertisements on TV is meeting strong resistance from the
Association of Indonesian Cigarette Producers.

Achmad Djuffan, chief of the association, said Saturday that
if it is enforced, the total ban would seriously affect its
members.

"Although smoking is dangerous to one's health, to their
addicts cigarettes are a source of inspiration," Achmad said..

He was commenting on proposals for a total ban on cigarette
and liquor ads on television.

Achmad argued that in Islam, the religion of most
Indonesians, cigarettes and liquor have a different status.
Liquor, he said, is totally forbidden. While cigarettes are
categorized as makhruh, meaning that a Moslem is not prohibited
from smoking, but that if one refuses tobacco, he or she will
receive a divine reward. (wah)