Satpol PP Removes Cigarette Advertisements At Stalls And Minimarkets In Central Jakarta

Illustration. (Photo: Pixabay)

JAKARTA - The Central Jakarta City Government Satpol PP held a surprise inspection (sidak) of 43 stalls and minimarkets that were still advertising cigarettes in the form of banners and posters.

Head of the Central Jakarta Satpol PP, Bernard Tambunan, said the inspection was carried out as a follow-up to the DKI Jakarta Governor's Call Number 8 of 2021 concerning the Development of Smoking Areas, which regulates the prohibition of traders from displaying cigarette products and advertisements in shops and stalls.

"If the big banners are gone, there are still a lot of pasted advertisements in the stalls. That's what we removed," Bernard said as quoted by Antara, Thursday, September 23.

During the inspection activities, from Monday (13/9) to Wednesday (22/9), Central Jakarta Satpol PP removed various forms of cigarette advertisements displayed in grocery stalls and minimarkets.

According to Bernard, the inspection was only a socialization and an appeal to shop and minimarket owners not to highlight cigarette products too much, as well as to remove cigarette advertising posters, but not to impose sanctions.

"When the time comes, we will give sanctions," he said.

Bernard admitted that there were stall traders who refused to remove cigarette advertisements. But after being given an explanation, they finally obeyed.

Meanwhile, a number of minimarkets asked for time so they could tidy up their cigarette windows and coordinate with mini market associations throughout DKI Jakarta.

"Minimarkets asked for time to tidy up themselves, including the 'display' of cigarettes to be moved. So they asked us to postpone the control because they will first coordinate with mini market managers throughout DKI Jakarta," said Bernard.

Entrepreneur's reaction

Several minimarkets in DKI Jakarta have begun to cover displays or displays of cigarette products. This is in line with the call from the Governor of DKI Jakarta Number 8 of 2021 concerning the Development of a No-Smoking Area. The Indonesian Shopping Center Tenants Association (Hippindo) considers that the ban on cigarette displays is a form of business uncertainty in Indonesia.

Hippindo's Advisory Board, Tutum Rahanta, said that the policy will increase pressure on the Tobacco Products Industry (IHT) and the retail industry in general. This is because the appeal, which was signed on June 9, 2021, asks all building managers of the DKI Jakarta Province to provide guidance on the implementation of the no-smoking area.

One of the main points is not to install cigarette billboards and displays, including displaying cigarette product packaging in commercial places. The government of West Jakarta has also taken action by closing stickers, posters, and closing the display racks of cigarette products.

Tutum said the policy was inappropriate and unreasonable. The policy seems to treat IHT products as illegal goods. Whereas before this it was also very limited and all entrepreneurs obeyed.