Letter: Increase of cigarette tax

Mon, 03/31/2008 12:11 PM

I refer to an article titled "Research says twofold increase of cigarette tax will benefit Indonesia", (The Jakarta Post, March 22, p. 13).

Governments around the world have found that increasing tobacco taxes has been an effective approach to reduce nicotine addiction and the accompanying medical problems which form a horrendous expense on national budgets due to lost days from sick workers.

But in many countries, the tobacco lobby has been effective in discouraging lawmakers from curbing advertising, outlawing smoking in public places and stopping increases to tobacco taxes.

Around the world tobacco consumption is in steep decline, except for a few countries, including Indonesia.

Is the health of Indonesians such a low priority for lawmakers?

In many countries the tobacco lobby has effectively forestalled restrictions resulting in a general improvement in national health.

In spite of overwhelming scientific evidence against smoking, the tobacco industry has often been able to give incentives for lawmakers in ways more rewarding to them than the votes from their legal constituents.

T. COTTON
Pattaya, Thailand

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