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70% of Indonesian smokers are teenagers: expert
Smoking hazard: Children join a campaign to raise awareness about the dangers smoking poses to minors at the Hotel Indonesia (HI) Traffic Circle over the weekend in a 2012 file photo
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span class="caption">Smoking hazard: Children join a campaign to raise awareness about the dangers smoking poses to minors at the Hotel Indonesia (HI) Traffic Circle over the weekend in a 2012 file photo. JP/P.J. Leo Seventy percent of Indonesian smokers are teenagers, an expert said on Friday.
'The majority of Indonesian smokers are between the ages of 16 and 25,' said Hasbullah Thabrani, an expert in tobacco consumption, as quoted by Antara news agency.
Hasbullah also said cigarette consumption increased every year and it had brought bad health impacts on people during their productive age.
'According to data, cigarette consumption increases by 20 percent every year in Indonesia,' he said.
The data also showed that the majority of smokers were from the lower middle class, as rich people were already aware of the dangers of smoking.
Hasbullah hoped that the government would take action to control the increasing rate of cigarette consumption.
'The one and only way is by increasing cigarette taxes, which will also protect farmers and producers from bankruptcy,' he argued. (ika) (+++)
