President Joko Widodo issues the 2022 Presidential Decree No. 25 regarding the 2023 Cabinet Regulation Formulation Program. One of the programs is banning the sale of cigarettes in bars, as quoted from the Ministry of Finance’s official website on Monday, December 26. This acts as one of the 7 primary points of the decree, other than that is the regulation of e-cigarettes.
The Presidential Decree serves as the change on Government Regulations No 109/2012 about Safeguarding Materials Containing Addictive Substance in the form of Tobacco Products for Health. There is also a plan to enlarge the picture and health warning inscription in the cigarettes packaging, derived from the Health act article 116 No 36/2009.
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Aside from that, there will be a prohibition of ads, promotion and product sponsorship in media, quoted from the Presidential Decree. President Jokowi will also enforce stricter regulations regarding Free-smoking areas. (https://linksmagazine.com)
Earlier, the government also decided to increase tobacco tax up to 10% on 2023-2024. If this policy applies starting next year, it will be a tough year for the national tobacco industry. The Minister of Finance, Sri Mulyani, said that the policy serves as another way to reduce cigarette consumption by increasing its price.
