Jakarta, 28 May 2026 — Ahead of World No Tobacco Day, the World Health Organization (WHO) calls for urgent and decisive action to protect children and adolescents in Indonesia from the harms of tobacco and nicotine addiction. This includes strong support to ban electronic cigarettes, implement pictorial health warnings on tobacco packaging, and initiate long-term measures to create a tobacco-free generation.
Indonesia continues to face a high burden of tobacco use. At the same time a new threat has emerged, as more young people take up electronic cigarettes, also known as vapes, and other nicotine products. According to the 2023 Global School Health Survey, a staggering 20% of Indonesian students aged 13–17 years use tobacco and 12% use electronic cigarettes.
Flavours such as fruit and candy, colourful packaging and sleek designs are deliberately used to attract young users and make these products appear less harmful. Aggressive marketing, including through social media and influencers, further normalises vapes use among children and adolescents.
Nicotine exposure during adolescence can harm brain development and increase the risk of long-term addiction. Evidence shows that vapes may act as a gateway to cigarette smoking and lead to dual use, increasing health risks rather than reducing them.
“Electronic cigarettes and other nicotine products are harmful. They are intentionally designed to attract young people and create addiction,” said Dr N. Paranietharan, WHO Representative to Indonesia. “Protecting young people from nicotine addiction is essential to safeguarding Indonesia’s future.”
WHO Indonesia therefore strongly supports calls to ban electronic cigarettes entirely as a necessary measure to prevent further uptake among young people, who are being actively targeted by the industry. By taking this step, the nation would join a growing number of countries that have already taken strong measures against these products. Globally, more than 40 countries have banned vapes, including many in South-East Asia such as Singapore, Brunei Darussalam, Thailand, Myanmar, Viet Nam, Lao PDR, Cambodia and Timor-Leste.
WHO also urgently calls for the swift enactment of the draft Health Minister Regulation on tobacco packaging and labelling, which would introduce larger pictorial health warnings on tobacco packs. Strong, large warnings are proven effective to reduce the appeal of tobacco and nicotine products and increase awareness of their harms. This is a time-critical obligation as the Government Regulation No. 28 of 2024 mandates implementation by end of July 2026, less than two months away.
To fulfil the Government’s duty to protect young people and secure Indonesia’s future prosperity, WHO also calls for political commitment to create a tobacco-free generation as a definitive measure towards the tobacco endgame. By adopting this approach, Indonesia would join a growing global movement to protect young people, with countries such as the Maldives and the United Kingdom already committing to ban the sale of tobacco to anyone born from 2007 and 2009 onwards, respectively.
“These bold measures would decisively break the cycle of addiction,” added Dr N. Paranietharan. “Indonesia needs to act now. Let us end the harm from tobacco and nicotine, and protect the next generation.”
WHO remains committed to supporting Indonesia in advancing evidence-based tobacco control policies and building a healthier future for all.
About WHO
Dedicated to the well-being of all people and guided by science, the World Health Organization leads and champions global efforts to give everyone, everywhere an equal chance at a safe and healthy life. We are the UN agency for health that connects nations, partners and people on the front lines in 150+ locations – leading the world’s response to health emergencies, preventing disease, addressing the root causes of health issues and expanding access to medicines and health care. Our mission is to promote health, keep the world safe and serve the vulnerable. https://www.who.int/indonesiaFor more information, please contact:
Bunga Manggiasih, National Professional Officer (Communication)manggiasihb@who.int, +6281110646998