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.