Age, class divides among Indonesia’s smokers

Most of Indonesia’s smokers are young and from the ‘lower middle class’, according to a story in the Jakarta Post quoting the Antara News Agency.

Hasbullah Thabrani, who was described as an ‘expert in tobacco consumption’, was said to have told the agency that the majority of Indonesian smokers were between the ages of 16 and 25.

He said that cigarette consumption in Indonesia increased by 20 percent each year, causing negative health on people during their productive years.

The majority of smokers were said also to be from the ‘lower middle class’ because rich people were already aware of the dangers of smoking.

Hasbullah called on the government to 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 said.