Indonesia Vaporizer Association Vows to Protect Children from Harm

According to a report by Antara News on May 27th, the Indonesian Vaporizer Association (APVI) stated on Monday (27th) in Jakarta that they will protect children under the age of 18 and prevent them from being exposed to heated tobacco products and e-cigarettes.

APVI Secretary-General Garindra Kartasasmita stated: "We promise to ensure that these products are only intended for adult smokers.

He explained that there is currently a lot of misleading information circulating, claiming that alternative tobacco products are targeting children as consumers. According to him, these products that use the concept of reducing tobacco risk are actually more aimed at providing choices for adult smokers who have difficulty quitting in the long term.

Consumers of alternative tobacco products are individuals over the age of 18. In Indonesia, we have never seen advertisements for alternative tobacco products targeted at minors.

He stated that the association has established rules requiring members not to sell alternative tobacco products to minors, and has implemented a system of mutual supervision and maintenance among members. He hopes the government can establish fair and balanced regulations on alternative tobacco products to prevent minors from accessing such products.

His viewpoint is supported by research from the UK Health Security Agency, which suggests that e-cigarettes can reduce harm by 90-95%, significantly lower than traditional tobacco products.

In addition, Daniel Boy Purwanto, chairman of the Indonesian e-liquid Industry Alliance (PPEI), stated that alternative tobacco products are only for adult smokers who wish to change their tobacco habits. To prove this commitment, they have clear signs at the entrance of e-cigarette stores prohibiting sales to those under the legal age. If someone who appears underage tries to make a purchase, they will be asked to show identification by the staff.

Pulwatto hopes that relevant regulations can be based on scientific research while also considering the health risks of the products. He firmly believes that, in addition to preventing minors from accessing alternative tobacco products, adult smokers can still use these products to change their tobacco habits.