Gerindra Proposes Prohibition Of Cigarettes In Entertainment Places, DKI Provincial Government Agrees

JAKARTA - The DKI Jakarta Provincial Government and the DKI Jakarta DPRD are currently drafting a Draft Regional Regulation (Raperda) on Non-Smoking Areas (KTR). In the drafting of the Raperda, the Gerindra faction of the DKI Jakarta DPRD proposed additional details of public places that are included in non-smoking areas.

The area in question is nightclubs such as karaoke venues, nightclubs, and live music cafes. DKI Jakarta Governor Pramono Anung responded to this proposal.

In the plenary meeting of the Governor's response to the general view of the factions against the Raperda KTR, Pramono agreed with the proposal.

"In response to views and questions from the Gerindra Party faction, the executive agreed that karaoke venues, nightclubs, live music cafes are included in the definition of entertainment venues in the order of public places within the Ranperda for Non-Smoking Areas," Pramono said at the DKI Jakarta DPRD Building, Tuesday, May 27.

According to Pramono, the provisions for the prohibition of smoking at night entertainment venues have indeed been implemented in several countries. Thus, there is a chance that Jakarta will also implement the ban.

"Several global cities in the world such as Tokyo, Seoul, and San Jose apply a smoking ban on entertainment venues such as bars, discotheques as well as impose fines for smoking bans less than 10 meters away from other people," Pramono explained.

Previously, the Gerindra faction of the DKI Jakarta DPRD proposed the inauguration of the phrase "public place" which was included in the non-smoking area in Article 4 letter h and Article 14 of the Raperda for Non-Smoking Areas. Gerindra asked that nightclubs be included in the provisions of no-smoking areas.

"In Article 4 letter h, it is stated that public places as part of the Non-Smoking Area (KTR), as well as Article 14 which clarifies the types of public places, it is necessary to add locations/areas, namely at night entertainment venues such as karaoke, nightclubs, live music cafes, because one of the causes of fires at night entertainment venues is cigarette butts," explained Gerindra faction member Ali Lubis in a plenary meeting of the faction's general view, Monday, May 26.

Gerindra assessed that this regulation could be implemented in Jakarta because a number of countries in Australia, America and Europe had implemented similar provisions.

"Efforts to protect the public from the bad effects of cigarette smoke should be regulated in the provisions so that the benefits and objectives of limiting the existence of an area without smoking can be achieved," said Ali.

For information, currently Jakarta does not have local regulations governing non-smoking areas. Currently, the rules regarding the prohibition of smoking in public spaces are still regulated in Governor Regulation Number 88 of 2010 concerning Amendments to Governor Regulation Number 75 of 2005 concerning Prohibited Smoking Areas.

Meanwhile, in the draft Raperda KTR which is being drafted, Article 4 states that the cigarette tanla area includes health service facilities, places for the teaching and learning process, places for children to play, places of worship, public transportation, workplaces, public places, integrated public spaces, and certain places that hold crowd permits.

Then, Article 14 includes the types of public places referred to in Article 14, ranging from modern markets, traditional markets, hotels or inns, apartments/rusun, restaurants or restaurants, recreation areas or entertainment venues, bus stops, terminals/stations/labors/airports, meeting halls, and other public places.