In a significant move to combat escalating tobacco use, the newly elected Governor of the Special Capital Region of Jakarta, HE Pramono Anung, convened a pivotal meeting with key public health partners to reinforce the city’s commitment to comprehensive tobacco control.
The meeting, held on Aug. 6, 2025, was organized by Vital Strategies in collaboration with the World Health Organization, Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids, Smoke Free Jakarta, Association of Indonesia Local Health Offices (ADINKES) and Muhammadiyah, a prominent Indonesian civil society organization.
At the meeting, Vital Strategies and partners presented measures to strengthen tobacco control in Jakarta, which the governor welcomed and underscored as top priorities:
- Sustaining the Tobacco Advertising Ban: preserving the city’s achievements in banning tobacco advertising and reaffirming enforcement of the ban, which has been in place since 2017.
- Regulating Point-of-Sale Displays Ban: securing provisions in the draft regional regulation on smoke-free areas to ban the display of tobacco products at points of sale, to curb impulse purchases and protect youth from exposure.
- Strengthening Smoke-Free Laws: working to ensure that international best practices for smoke-free policies are included in the draft legislation currently under parliamentary discussion, to create smoke-free, healthier environments in all public places, workplaces and public transport.
- Preventing Industry Interference: protecting tobacco control policies from interference by the tobacco industry, so that that public health remains the priority.
Indonesia has one of the world’s highest rates of tobacco use, with an estimated 65.5% of men and 3.3 % of women using tobacco. The Global Youth Tobacco Survey 2019 found that 18.8% of students, (35.5% of boys, and 2.9% of girls) smoked tobacco.
Secondhand smoke exposure is also a major issue with 59.3% of adults reporting being exposed in their own homes; in cafes and coffee shops the rate was a shocking 91.8%. Tobacco use and secondhand exposure are linked to an estimated 268,600 deaths each year in Indonesia, accounting for about 12.3% of total deaths, mostly due to lung cancer, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, ischemic heart disease and stroke.
The governor expressed full support for advancing comprehensive tobacco control policies. “I am committed to sustaining the ban on tobacco advertising in Jakarta and keeping our city a leader in promoting a healthy, smoke-free environment,” he said. “We will focus on strong policies and their enforcement, making Jakarta a model for other cities in Indonesia while embracing our role as a global city prioritizing public health.”
Vital Strategies applauds the governor’s commitment to advancing tobacco control in Jakarta. “The governor’s leadership is key to protecting public health and promoting a tobacco-free capital,” said Dr. Tara Singh Bam, Asia Pacific Director for Tobacco Control. “Securing these policies in law and enforcing them will safeguard Jakarta’s progress and improve the health of all residents.”
Since 2009, Vital Strategies, in partnership with Smoke Free Jakarta, has been supporting the city’s tobacco control efforts through technical assistance, evidence generation, capacity building and advocacy to counter tobacco industry interference and implement effective policies. The introduction of smoke-free areas in public spaces and workplaces, established under Governor Regulation No. 88 of 2010 and strengthened in 2012, laid the foundation for progress. In 2014, Jakarta advanced further by banning both outdoor and indoor tobacco advertising, including at points of sale, under Local Regulation No. 9.
Dollaris Riauaty Suhadi, Head of Smoke Free Jakarta, highlighted the city’s role as a global leader. “The city must set an example with a full ban on tobacco displays at points of sale,” she said, noting that such measures reduce visibility, curb impulse purchases and discourage youth from smoking.
Jakarta’s progressive stance on tobacco control is a model for cities across Indonesia and the region, contributing to initiatives like the Indonesian Mayor and Regent Alliance for Tobacco Control and the Asia Pacific Cities Alliance for Health and Development (APCAT).
Learn more about Vital Strategies’ Tobacco Control work.
To learn more about Vital Strategies’ efforts to strengthen and enforce tobacco control, please visit the Tobacco Control Policy Implementation Hub.