Jakarta Looks to Ban Outdoor Tobacco Advertising
Jakarta. A senior official at City Hall reiterated on Friday the government's commitment to ban billboard advertising of tobacco products to curb smoking addiction among children.
Governor Basuki Tjahaja Purnama issued a bylaw on Jan. 13 stipulating that the city would not grant permits for tobacco companies to advertise outdoors.
"We have to be brave enough to do this to show our commitment to tobacco control," Jakarta regional secretary Saefullah said on Friday.
Ongoing advertising contracts with tobacco companies will be honored but no extensions will be given and no new contracts signed, according to the bylaw.
Saefullah said the government was prepared to lose money on the sale of advertising if it meant reducing the number of new smokers in the city.
Public order officers (Satpol PP) will monitor outdoor ads whose permits have expired, including banners and posters installed at small vendors.
"Smoking is unhealthy so we have to be courageous enough to take this bold decision if we want our next generation to live a healthy life," he said.
The Ministry of Health issued a regulation in 2012 that permitted tobacco advertising up to 72 square meters in size.
Jakarta has previously issued several regulations on tobacco control. In 2010 former governor Fauzi Bowo issued a bylaw banning smoking from all government buildings. Smoking in public buildings is also prohibited. Anecdotal evidence indicates, however, that these laws are frequently not enforced.
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