I
first heard about the case of Aldi Rizal way back in 2010 when the video of him
entitled “Indonesian Baby on 40 cigarettes a day” became viral on YouTube. True
to its title, the video did indeed show an overweight toddler in diapers,
around 2-3 years of age, puffing cigarettes one after the other. An anachronism
at its best, Aldi displayed proficiency in lighting up a cigarette using
another one that is already lit, and exhaling cigarette smoke through his mouth
and nose.
According to a feature article
written about him on Today, young
Aldi started smoking when he was just 11 months old. [1]However,
there is no information with regards to who introduced him to cigarettes.
Within five months since his first drag, it was said that “he was up to four
packs per day”. Because of this, Aldi is described as a ‘local celebrity’ in
their fishing community in Sumatra. [1]A celebrity that is famous
for all the wrong reasons.
Aldi’s parents were presented to be
completely incapable of controlling their child’s addiction. His father
Mohammed, has been quoted saying that his son “looks pretty healthy” and that
“there is no problem”. Aldi’s mother Diana mentioned that if her son is denied
another cigarette, he “gets angry and screams and batters his head against the
wall” and the only way to appease Aldi is by giving him another cigarette. Aldi
will only smoke one brand, and this brand costs his parents 3.75 pounds (6 USD/273
php) per day. [2]
At
present, Aldi apparently was finally able to kick his smoking habit. [1][2] Since the video of him smoking became
popular, the National Commission for Child protection in Indonesia stepped in
and provided him with 5 weeks’ worth of play therapy and treatment. However, he
apparently has found a new addiction, junk food, and has gained 13 pounds since
then. [1]
Smoking has always been regarded as
an adult activity, done with full knowledge and consent. For this reason, it
can be said that the case of Aldi Rizal is definitely a perversion of smoking,
and childhood most especially. However,
through further research I discovered that underage smoking is a common albeit
unfortunate occurrence in Indonesia. [3]The ‘underage’ nature of it takes
on an extreme form as children from the same age group as Aldi were seen as
also taking a regular drag. [1][2]According to a statistic from the
Central Statistics Agency of Indonesia, 25% Indonesian children, 3 to 15 years
of age, were found to have already tried cigarettes. 3.2% of these children
were regular smokers.[2]The National Commission for Child Protection
as well, has been said to receive information from 20 families with children aging
from 11 months to 2 years old, has already started to form a smoking habit.
[3]
The influence of culture is
perhaps the most dominant contributor in the proliferation of child smoking in
Indonesia. Currently the third largest tobacco-consuming country, [2]
smoking in itself is seen as an integral part of “coming-of-age” ceremonies.
Clove cigarettes (locally known as kretek)
are said to be introduced to boys as early as the age of 10, to mark the
beginning of a new stage in life. [3] From this, it can be said that the influence of family, the most
powerful perhaps are the parents, also play a crucial role. Children who grow
up observing their parents smoke regularly, are likely to take up smoking as
well in adulthood, if not during childhood, or pre-adolescence. (Determinants of smoking behavior)Peer
pressure was also found to be another social factor that contributes to the
increase in child smoking. [2]
Poor regulation of tobacco products
has also been noted to contribute greatly to the increase in the prevalence of
child smoking. [1] It was only in 2009 when a health law oriented
towards the hazards of smoking was passed by legislators in the country,[2]but
prior to that there has been no tangible regulatory measures at play that
addresses the accessibility of tobacco products to the youth. . [1][4] Aside
from this, the amount of promotional activity that the tobacco industry is able
to undertake was also unregulated. Tobacco companies were able to advertise
their cigarettes on television, radio, malls, conventions, and were even seen to
provide scholarships. All of these done in ways that appeal greatly to kids. [1][4]
The new health act however is being pushed to regulate the amount of air
time that Cigarette Companies receive, as well as the sponsorships and
scholarships that they are allowed to provide, it also requires warning labels
to be printed on cigarette packets. [1][2][3]
Despite the strong cultural
entrenchment, protests and criticisms against smoking has started to come up. Some
of which, are not entirely based on concerns over health and associated risks.
The prevalence of smoking among the youth has also been found to affect the
economy of Indonesia in the long term. [3]
The tobacco industry contributes a
sizable amount of income to the Indonesian economy. In a study conducted by the
International Union against Tuberculosis and Lung Disease regarding tobacco
taxation, it has been found that if the current tax of 46% [6]is doubled,
an additional income of 3.2 to 6.5 billion US dollars can be incurred. The
employment in the country can also be increased by approximately 250,000 jobs.
[5] Though the effects of the tax increase on the levels of consumption
was unstated, fundamental laws of economics state that an increase in price
would mean a decrease in consumption. However, this decrease is still not
enough to circumvent the long term detrimental effects of smoking on the
economy. The prevalence and increase of smoking among the youth has been found to
have extensive effects on manpower, threatening Indonesia’s labor potential. [3]A
statement by Mr. Abdillah Ahsan, a professor from the University of Indonesia
summarizes the effects of the phenomenon:
“Today’s
junior high school students will enter working age by 2020, because of smoking
in this age group, many will fall ill and be unable to work. The current youth
smoking trend is alarming.” – Abdillah Ahsan [3]
Labor, if compromised, will greatly
reduce the productive capacity of an economy; especially being one of the components
of the three-legged stool that is the factors of production. Much like a
three-legged stool, if one of the legs of production become nonfunctional, the
stool collapses. The human factor of production is oftentimes overlooked.
Oftentimes, worker’s overall health, work conditions, and skills development are
deemed marginal in importance, as compared to the quantity of plants and
equipment, maximization of profits, and the like.
There
is no doubt that the considerable attention that Aldi has received from the
internet community has contributed greatly to the government intervening on his
situation. However, the condition of other children who are under the same
situation, but has not received the same degree of attention, must also be
evaluated. Unfortunately, there is hardly any information available with
regards to the evaluation of the implementation of the tobacco health act, and
its ability to circumvent the harmful effects of tobacco smoking. In addition,
hardly any studies that discusses the changes in child smoking in Indonesia
since the law was adapted can also be found. This suggests that there has been
a tangible lack of interest towards the issue, perhaps fueled once again by
cultural factors determining this as normal, or perhaps corporate politics are
once again in play. Nevertheless, unless something is done to effectively
address the issue, the gradual deterioration of the health of these children
can be seen as a metaphorical representation of the deterioration of the human
quality, and labor capacity of the Indonesian economy as well.
References:
1. 1. Schiavocampo, M.
(2010, May 11). ‘Smoking toddler’ kicked habit, but thousands more addicted. Today Health. Retrieved from http://www.today.com/id/40024399
2. 2. Mail Foreign
Service. (no date) Too unfit to run: Two-year-old who smokes 40 cigarettes a
day puffs away on a toy truck. The
Dailymail UK. Retrieved from http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-1281538/Smoking-year-old-Ardi-Rizal-40-cigarettes-day.html
3. 3. Rambe, Y. (2012
, June 23). Indonesia: Agency to sue over child smoking. Khabar Southeast Asia.
Retrieved from http://khabarsoutheastasia.com/en_GB/articles/apwi/articles/features/2012/06/23/feature-02
4. 4. Martini S. & Sulistyowati M.
(2005, December). The determinants of smoking behavior among teenagers in east
java province, Indonesia. Retrieved from http://siteresources.worldbank.org/HEALTHNUTRITIONANDPOPULATION/Resources/281627-1095698140167/IndonesiaYouthSmokingFinal.pdf
5. 5. Adioetomo, S.,
Ahsan, A., Barber , S., & Setyonaluri, D. International Union Against Tuberculosis
and Lung Disease (The Union), (2008). Tobacco
economics in Indonesia. Retrieved from Tobacco Free Kids website: http://global.tobaccofreekids.org/files/pdfs/en/Indonesia_tobacco_taxes_report_en.pdf
6. 6. Southeast Asia
Initiative Tobacco Tax: Indonesia
Retrieved from: http://tobaccotax.seatca.org/?page_id=89
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