Social Minister: Children Must Have Their Access Restricted From Smoking

JAKARTA - Social Minister Juliari Batubara said, there are three efforts to prevent children from becoming smokers so that they can become a generation with a future. These three efforts must be supported by all parties concerned.

He said that in a webinar held by the Indonesian Child Protection Agency (LPAI) with the theme, Protection and Fulfillment of Children's Rights from Cigarette Culture during the COVID-19 Pandemic.

Reporting from the Ministry of Social Affairs website, Juliari said, the first effort is that children must be restricted in their access to purchase cigarettes for children. This is because the facts in the field are that children can buy cigarettes easily, even casually.

Not only do they limit their purchases, children also have to change their view of cigarettes by assuming it is cool, cool, mature and handsome.

"We have to learn from our neighboring country, Singapore, where children's access to cigarettes is very strict, especially there people who smoke are considered strange," said Social Minister Juliari.

Second, smoking is an entry point for drug abuse. Especially if the family environment, school and other environments cannot take precautions, then children at the next stage are vulnerable to becoming drug users such as marijuana, crystal meth and ecstasy.

It needs to be reminded to parents and all related parties, when children fall from an early age it will have an impact besides brain damage but also losing their future.

"We have to do everything in our power so that the children do not fall into bad things and honestly we must say that it makes parents and families sad," said Juliari.

Third, increase cigarette prices and excise. The Early Intervention program is very important and the superior human resources that the President of the Republic of Indonesia, Joko Widodo always put forward, will be achieved if an anti-smoking prevention program is available.

Anti-smoking prevention for children must start with parents by always reminding them of the dangers of smoking and giving the understanding that smoking is an entry point for drug abuse.

"In the future, life is full of competition and children who can survive are those who stay away from negative things and our nation will not be a winning nation if children cannot be winners against smoking," said Juliari.

Furthermore, Juliari conveyed a message to parents to always try to provide good life lessons for their children, because large possessions will not always guarantee their children are happy.

"I think this is a legacy in the form of positive values by staying away from negative values that can damage, so teach children to be humble and listen to people who are more experienced or older," said Juliari.