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Tobacco giant joins campaign against underage smoking
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Direct campaign: Cigarette maker Hanjaya Mandala Sampoerna sales director Ivan Cahyadi (center) hands over a warning sign informing people of the prohibition on selling cigarettes to underage customers to a convenience store attendant in Cilandak, South Jakarta, on Wednesday. (JP/Safrin La Batu)
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n an effort to limit children's access to cigarettes, tobacco giant Hanjaya Mandala Sampoerna has installed warning signs about the government’s prohibition on cigarette sales to underage customers in over 30,000 convenience stores nationwide.
Sampoerna, which controls a 34.5 percent market share of the cigarette industry, the largest in Southeast Asia’s most populated country, said it was seeking to collaborate with more convenience store operators in the future to support its view that "children should not have access to cigarettes".
"Sampoerna is fulfilling its commitment to only market and promote its products to adults," Sampoerna sales director Ivan Cahyadi told reporters on Wednesday.
Article 25 of Government Regulation No.109/2012 on tobacco control prohibits cigarette sales to those aged 18 years old and younger.
Sampoerna's initiative began in 2013 and initially only covered areas in Greater Jakarta. The signs installed include stickers, wobblers and tent cards.
Besides installing the signs, the company has also educated store owners about the law that prohibits the sale of cigarettes to children.
Shobri, who works at a convenience store in Cilandak, South Jakarta, said his store had tried to not serve children buying cigarettes.
“They, however, insist and always look for an excuse, like saying they are buying the cigarettes for their elder brothers,” he said. (hwa)
