Indonesia
Indonesia has taken important steps to strengthen tobacco control. In 2024, new regulations raised the legal age to 21, banned single-stick sales, expanded health warnings, and introduced tighter rules around e-cigarettes and tobacco retail near schools. These measures show growing national commitment to protecting health and preventing youth initiation.
With millions of Indonesians still affected by tobacco use, continued research, policy innovation, and community engagement remain vital. This page highlights our research in Indonesia and provides resources to support further action.
Marketing Appeals on E-cigarette Product Packages in Indonesia
E-cigarette use is increasing globally, especially among youth. In Indonesia alone, Global Youth Tobacco Survey data indicates that more than 14% of adolescents ages 13–15 use e-cigarettes and 23% report ever trying these products.
Assessing Cigarette Packs Sold in Indonesia for Health Warning Label Compliance
Using the TPackSS systematic protocol, cigarette and kretek packs were purchased across three cities in Indonesia (Jakarta, Medan, and Surabaya) during September 2022.
Impact of an E-Cigarette Tax on Cigarette Use in Indonesia
On October 1, 2018, Indonesia implemented its first regulation on e-cigarettes. This project used online surveys in a pre-post study design to examine how the 2018 Indonesian tax on e-cigarette liquid affected use of cigarettes and e-cigarettes.
Selected Papers and Presentations
Amalia B, Swandewi Astuti PA, Cohen JE. Five years of discourse related to Indonesia tobacco control reform: A content analysis of online media coverage. Tobacco Control.Published Online First: 23 August 2024. DOI: 10.1136/tc-2024-058661.
Barker HE, Hartmuller R, Brown JL, Luo X, Amalia B, Imanita YR, Zaman R, Smith KC, Cohen JE, Welding K. Marketing appeals on Indonesian e-cigarette packaging. Poster presentation at the Society for Research on Nicotine & Tobacco Annual Meeting. New Orleans. March 12–15, 2025.
Barker HE, Brown JL, Byron MJ, Ismawan B, Barnoya J, Cohen JE, Welding K. The perspective of independent tobacco retailers on underage sales and marketing restrictions in Jakarta, Indonesia. Online e-poster at the World Conference on Tobacco Control. Dublin, Ireland. June 23-25, 2025.
Brown JL, Hartmuller R, Barker HE, Martinez J, Smith KC, Cohen JE. Nicotine specifications on e-cigarette packaging in Indonesia. Poster presentation at the Society for Research on Nicotine & Tobacco Annual Meeting. New Orleans. March 12–15, 2025.
Brown JL, Byron MJ, Ismawan B, Barker HE, Cohen JE, Barnoya J. Business-to-business marketing: The relationship between tobacco companies and retailers in Jakarta, Indonesia. Online e-poster at the World Conference on Tobacco Control. Dublin, Ireland. June 23-25, 2025.
Nian Q, Kennedy RD, Ariani D, Wright K, Brown JL, Bam TS, Duana MK, Dewanti DS. Changes in compliance with bans on tobacco product display and advertising at traditional and modern point-of-sale retailers in Depok, Indonesia, 2019–2021. Nicotine & Tobacco Research. 2024; ntae099. DOI: 10.1093/ntr/ntae099.