Trick or treat?

Trick or treat?

From Media Indonesia

On June 24, I visited the Jakarta Fair with some friends. As I was about to enter the main gate I was attracted by a sideshow which I had never seen before. The show involved kicking a ball between a goalpost. People were invited to play free of charge. The visitors were invited to take turns kicking the ball.

Upon entering the playground I was asked to meet a salesgirl who offered me a product which resembled a sweet. The salesgirl told me to consume the product. It should be placed between your lips and sucked, not bitten.

But I had heard earlier that the product was nothing but a sort of cigarette, so I rejected the offer. The salesgirl then tried to force me to try one and threatened to drive me out if I did not do so. My friends took the product called SKOAL and later threw it away after discovering they were sucking tobacco in the form of sweets. They were apparently quite ignorant of the true nature of the products.

As the Jakarta Fair will run for several more weeks, I am afraid more people will be "forced" to smoke a sweet-like cigarette, simply because they are fascinated by the game.

The authorities should do something about it.

MICHAEL

Jakarta