Child smokers prompt Indonesia legal case

Summary

The script highlights the tobacco industry's shift to developing countries like Indonesia, where smoking rates, especially among children, are soaring. It tells the story of Ilham, an eight-year-old addicted to smoking for four years, illustrating the severe public health crisis Indonesia faces. The industry's aggressive marketing and the government's lack of education and regulation are blamed for the epidemic. Ilham's struggle with addiction and his family's inability to help him underscore the urgent need for action.

Takeaways

• 🚭 Tobacco industry is shifting focus to developing countries like Indonesia as regulations tighten in the West.
• 📈 There is a significant increase in smoking rates in Indonesia, including among children, with around 5 million child smokers.
• 🌍 Indonesia is facing a public health crisis due to high smoking rates, which is a greater epidemic than many other nations.
• 👦 The story of Ilham, an 8-year-old boy who has been smoking for four years, illustrates the severity of the issue.
• 🏠 Parents in Ilham's village are often unaware of child health and discipline, making it easier for the tobacco industry to sell cigarettes.
• 🔥 Ilham's addiction has led him to steal and sell household items to fund his smoking habit.
• 🏷️ The favorite brand of Ilham is 'You Mild', owned by the global tobacco giant Philip Morris.
• 📺 Ilham's story was featured on local TV, leading to an invitation for his family to join a rehabilitation program in Jakarta.
• 🏥 Despite a month in rehab, Ilham's addiction was not effectively addressed, and he ran away from home.
• 📉 In contrast to the US and Australia, where child smoking rates have significantly decreased, Indonesia has seen a tripling in less than a decade.
• 🤝 The national children's charity in Indonesia is planning to sue both big tobacco and the government, using Ilham's case as a study.
• 📜 Indonesia has not signed the International Convention on tobacco control, and draft laws are currently weaker than required by the convention.

Q & A

What is happening in Australia regarding tobacco regulations?

Australia is implementing plain packaging laws as part of a crackdown on tobacco, which is causing big tobacco companies to shift their focus to developing countries.

Why are tobacco companies refocusing their sales efforts on developing countries like Indonesia?

As the market for tobacco shrinks in Western countries due to stricter regulations, companies are seeking new markets where they can sell their products, leading to an increase in smoking rates, including among children, in developing countries.

How old is the boy mentioned in the script, and how long has he been smoking?

The boy, Ilhan, is eight years old and has been smoking for four years.

What is the estimated number of child smokers in Indonesia?

There are around 5 million child smokers in Indonesia.

What is the general situation regarding child health and discipline in the village where Ilhan lives?

Parents in Ilhan's village are often ignorant about basic child health, well-being, and discipline, making it easier for the tobacco industry to sell cigarettes to children.

What is the impact of the tobacco industry's marketing on children in Indonesia?

The tobacco industry's marketing makes it almost impossible for kids to avoid cigarettes, leading to a public health tragedy with a high number of children starting to smoke.

What was Ilhan's initial experience with cigarettes?

Ilhan's addiction began when his father sent him to fetch a packet of cigarettes from the local shop, and he soon started buying them secretly for himself.

How did Ilhan fund his smoking habit when his parents cut off his pocket money?

Ilhan resorted to stealing and selling household items like rice to fund his smoking habit.

What brand of cigarettes is Ilhan's favorite, and who owns it?

Ilhan's favorite brand is 'You Mild', which is owned by the global tobacco giant Philip Morris.

What action did the national children's charity take after Ilhan was featured on local TV?

The national children's charity invited Ilhan's family to join a rehabilitation program in Jakarta to help him quit smoking.

What is the situation regarding smoking rates among children in the US and Australia compared to Indonesia?

Over the last 20 years, the rate of children smoking in the US has halved, and in Australia, it has fallen even more, but in Indonesia, it has tripled in less than 10 years.

What is the stance of the national children's charity regarding big tobacco and the government?

The national children's charity holds both big tobacco and the government equally responsible and plans to sue them using Ilhan's case as one of its studies.

What is the current state of tobacco control laws in Indonesia?

Indonesia is the only country in Southeast Asia that hasn't signed the International Convention on tobacco control, and draft new laws being prepared are much weaker than the convention requires.

What is the tobacco industry's response to accusations of targeting children with their products?

The tobacco industry insists they do not target children and argues that it's not their fault if most of their new customers start smoking when they are too young to know what's good for them.

Outlines

00:00

🚭 The Plight of Child Smokers in Indonesia

This paragraph discusses the impact of the tobacco industry's shift towards developing countries like Indonesia, where plain packaging and strict regulations are not yet in place. It highlights the tragic story of an eight-year-old boy named Ilhan, who has been smoking for four years. The script reveals the commonality of child smokers in Indonesia, where over 60% of men are smokers, and most started in childhood. Ilhan's addiction has led him to steal and sell family possessions to fund his habit. His parents' inability to discipline him and the tobacco industry's marketing strategies are blamed for his situation. The paragraph also mentions the boy's favorite brand, 'You Mild,' owned by Philip Morris, and the parents' call for the industry to be reined in to protect children.

05:01

📉 The Global Impact of Tobacco Industry on Child Smoking Rates

The second paragraph focuses on the tobacco industry's global strategy and its consequences, particularly in Indonesia. It contrasts the decline in child smoking rates in developed countries like the US and Australia with the alarming increase in Indonesia, where the rate has tripled in less than a decade. The national children's charity holds both the tobacco industry and the government responsible, planning to sue them using Ilhan's case as a study. The paragraph also touches on Indonesia's lack of adherence to the International Convention on tobacco control and the industry's influence on weakening draft laws, including reducing health warnings and increasing the size of billboards. The industry and its lobbyists deny targeting children and claim that it's not their fault that many of their customers start smoking at a young age.

Keywords

💡Crackdown

A crackdown refers to a strict and forceful action taken to suppress or control a particular activity or behavior. In the context of the video, it relates to the stringent measures implemented in the Western world, particularly in Australia, to restrict tobacco use. The script mentions 'a huge crackdown on tobacco', indicating the government's efforts to reduce smoking rates through regulations such as plain packaging.

💡Plain Packaging

Plain packaging in the context of tobacco products means the removal of all branding and logos from the packaging, which is replaced with a standardized design and health warnings. The script refers to the 'start of plain packaging' in Australia, which is a part of the crackdown on tobacco, aiming to reduce the appeal of smoking and inform consumers about the risks.

💡Developing Countries

Developing countries are nations with a lower standard of living and economic development compared to developed countries. The script discusses how big tobacco companies are shifting their focus to these countries, like Indonesia, where there are fewer regulations and a growing market for their products, leading to increased smoking rates.

💡Smoking Rates

Smoking rates refer to the percentage of a population that smokes tobacco. The video script highlights the 'massive increase in smoking rates' in Indonesia, particularly among children, as a result of the tobacco industry's marketing efforts and lack of stringent regulations.

💡Child Smokers

Child smokers are individuals under the age of 18 who smoke tobacco products. The script emphasizes the plight of '5 million child smokers' in Indonesia, illustrating the severity of the smoking epidemic among the youth, which is a direct consequence of the tobacco industry's aggressive marketing.

💡Public Health Tragedy

A public health tragedy refers to a situation where a large number of people are affected by a health crisis, often due to preventable causes. The video script describes Indonesia as facing a 'public health tragedy from smoking', indicating the scale of the smoking-related health issues that could arise from the current trends.

💡Tobacco Industry

The tobacco industry encompasses all businesses involved in the production, marketing, and sale of tobacco products. The script implicates the tobacco industry for selling 'a health hazard' to children in Indonesia, highlighting the industry's role in the rise of child smoking rates.

💡Addiction

Addiction is a compulsive, often uncontrollable need for a substance or behavior that can be harmful. The script details the story of 'Ilhan', an eight-year-old boy who has been smoking for four years, illustrating the devastating effects of nicotine addiction on a child's life.

💡Rehabilitation Program

A rehabilitation program is a structured plan aimed at helping individuals recover from addiction or other health issues. The script mentions a 'rehabilitation program in Jakarta' that Ilhan's family joined, which was an attempt to help him overcome his smoking addiction.

💡International Convention on Tobacco Control

The International Convention on Tobacco Control is a public health treaty aimed at reducing tobacco consumption and its health effects worldwide. The script notes that Indonesia is the only country in Southeast Asia that hasn't signed this convention, which suggests a lack of commitment to global tobacco control efforts.

💡Economic Terrorism

Economic terrorism, as used in the script, refers to the argument made by some industry supporters that strict regulations on tobacco advertising and sales could harm the economy. An opposition MP, Hendren Supra, uses this term to criticize attempts to limit the tobacco industry's marketing power, suggesting that economic interests are being prioritized over public health.

Highlights

Australia is implementing plain packaging as part of a crackdown on tobacco.

Big tobacco companies are shifting their focus to developing countries like Indonesia due to shrinking markets in the West.

Indonesia is experiencing a massive increase in smoking rates, including among children.

There are around 5 million child smokers in Indonesia.

Indonesia faces a public health tragedy from smoking, potentially greater than any other nation.

Ilhan, an 8-year-old boy, has been smoking for four years, highlighting the disturbingly common issue in Indonesia.

Parents in Indonesia are often ignorant about child health and discipline, making it easier for the tobacco industry to sell cigarettes to children.

Over 60% of Indonesian children try a cigarette before the age of 10.

Ilhan's addiction led him to steal to fund his habit when his parents stopped giving him pocket money.

Ilhan's favorite brand is 'You Mild', owned by global tobacco giant Philip Morris.

Parents argue that the tobacco industry targets children and needs to be regulated.

Ilhan's family was invited to a rehabilitation program in Jakarta after he was featured on local TV.

Rehabilitation efforts for Ilhan were largely unsuccessful, and he ran away from home after being released.

Ilhan's parents fear losing him again as he threatens to run away if not given cigarettes.

Child smoking rates in the US have halved, and in Australia, they've fallen even more, but in Indonesia, they've tripled in less than 10 years.

The national children's charity in Indonesia plans to sue big tobacco and the government, using Ilhan's case as a study.

Indonesia has not signed the International Convention on tobacco control and is preparing weaker laws than required.

The tobacco industry's lobbyists have weakened draft laws, reducing health warnings and allowing larger billboards.

Philip Morris and the industry lobby group claim they do not target children and are not responsible for underage smoking.

Transcripts

in the Western world there's been a huge

crackdown on tobacco here in Australia

of course we're about to see the start

of plain packaging while big tobacco's

market shrinks here and elsewhere it's

refocusing its sales efforts on

developing countries like Indonesia the

result is a massive increase in smoking

rates including among children Indonesia

correspondent Matt Brown reports on the

plight of one little boy who's found it

impossible to kick the habit the hardy

ill home is just eight years old but

he's already been smoking for four years

I'm just wanting cigarettes just wanting

them while this is undoubtedly a

shocking sight it's also disturbingly

common in Indonesia which has around 5

million child smokers Indonesia faces a

public health tragedy from smoking that

probably is great or greater as any

nation in the world with so many

children starting they're facing a true

epidemic

Ilhan lives in the little village of

Karawang gita about 120 kilometres south

of jakarta parents here are often

ignorant about basic child health

well-being and discipline against that

backdrop the tobacco industry is selling

a health hazard so ubiquitous it's

almost impossible for kids to avoid

[Music]

where did you get the cigarettes from

the people I sometimes give me

cigarettes there's no other country

where a third of all kids test try a

cigarette before the age of 10 in an

Indonesia were over 60% of men smoke

over 80% of them started as a child ill

Homs addiction has taken him on an

extraordinary and traumatic journey it

began when his father sent him to the

local shop to fetch a packet of

cigarettes pretty soon Ilhan was buying

them in secret for himself when his

parents cut off his pocket money he

resorted to stealing to fund his habit

when we didn't give him money and he

found rice at home he'd go selling the

rice anything he could sell in the house

he would sell his parents didn't know

how to discipline their own son they

were no match for his craving for

nicotine and became an angry

overstimulated little boy Sudheer then I

feel sad regretful and ashamed that I

could not educate my child ill home will

smoke anything he can get his hands on

but his favorite brand is you mild owned

by the global tobacco giant Philip

Morris what ads do you ever see ones

like you mild super I don't know ill

harms parents say his plight is proof

the industry targets children and must

be reined in

I lost and ni dongmou my song if I see

people installing cigarette ads around

here now I say to them dude stop putting

that here look what you've done to my

son my boy is a victim of the cigarette

companies don't you care at all about

him Indonesia is a reflection of what

happens when you allow the tobacco

industry to do whatever they want to

make their products appealing to

children and you do virtually nothing to

educate your population when ill harm

was featured on local TV in March a

national children's charity invited his

family to join a rehabilitation program

in Jakarta what I want to achieve is to

bring back the real children's world ill

ham needs to enjoy his playtime he's got

a right to go to school and a right to

be healthy after a month in rehab

Ilhan was released but little had been

achieved it was not a happy homecoming

and Hill Homs ordeal was about to take

another terrible twist his parents were

devastated when ill harm ran away from

home it was three weeks before

Ilhan was found trying to steal from a

mosque donation box 300 kilometers away

I feel disappointed that I couldn't take

care of my own child perfectly now he

even has a new weapon he says if you

don't give me cigarettes I will run away

again as a parent I now fear of losing

him once more

it's well known that the industry turned

to places like Indonesia as regulations

tightened up in the developed world but

the statistics on child smoking paint a

truly damning picture over the last 20

years or so the rate of children smoking

in the US has halved and in Australia

it's fallen even more but in Indonesia

it's tripled in less than 10 years the

national children's charity says big

tobacco and the government are equally

to blame and its planning to sue both

using ill harm as one of its case

studies I cried because children became

victims of a greedy state which fails to

protect public health and a greedy

cigarette industry which is only focused

on making profits Indonesia is the only

country in Southeast Asia

which hasn't signed the International

Convention on tobacco control draft new

laws being prepared right now a much

weaker than the convention requires but

the industry and its supporters like

opposition MP Hendren Supra techno are

fighting even those I considered

economic terrorism because you know the

issue now this industry has contributed

a lot for the country ok

the industry's lobbyists have already

succeeded in weakening the draft laws

cutting health warnings from 50% down to

40% of a pack and a plan to limit

billboards to 16 square meters is blown

out to allow 72 square meters and that

would make something like this look

positively modest neither Philip Morris

nor the industry lobby group would be

interviewed for this program but they

insist they do not target children and

it's not their fault that most of their

new customers get the taste when they're

too young to know what's good for them

Matt Brown with that