Misleading Information Surrounding E-Cigarettes and Traditional Cigarettes in Indonesia

According to a report from Malaysia's ANTARA on April 29th, Paido Siahaan, the chairman of the Indonesian E-Cigarette Consumers Association, stated in Jakarta that releasing misleading information claiming that the risks of e-cigarettes are equivalent to traditional cigarettes may decrease the effectiveness of e-cigarettes as a smoking cessation solution for adult smokers in Indonesia. He explained that e-cigarettes use a controlled temperature heating system during use, therefore producing vapor instead of smoke. In developed countries such as Japan, Germany, Denmark, the Netherlands, England, the United States, and Canada, teenagers rarely use this alternative tobacco product - e-cigarettes.

Pa Du pointed out that from a scientific perspective, alternatives to tobacco such as e-cigarettes are an effective option for transitioning from smoking habits, and can help adult smokers reduce health risks. However, there is still misleading information claiming that alternative tobacco products pose similar health risks to traditional cigarettes.

Pardo added that the UK National Health Service has confirmed that the risk level of alternative tobacco products is lower than traditional cigarettes. He cautioned, "Despite the lower risk, it is still prohibited for individuals under the age of 18 and non-smokers to use these products specifically designed for adult smokers looking to quit.

A study funded by the Cancer Research UK and published in February 2024, titled "Trends in Perceptions of e-cigarette and Traditional Tobacco Harms among Adult Smokers in the UK 2014-2023," found that the misinformation equating the risks of e-cigarettes with traditional cigarettes has had a significant impact on public health.

Sarah Jackson, a researcher at University College London, has stated that the perception that alternative tobacco products and traditional cigarettes pose the same risks poses a threat to public health. She believes that this may discourage adult smokers from using alternative tobacco products to change their traditional smoking habits.