Flavors in Cigarette Products Encourage People to Start Smoking

The ban on the use of additional flavorings in cigarette products needs to be implemented in Indonesia. The prohibition on the use of flavorings is effective in preventing first time smokers and encouraging smoking cessation efforts in the community.

The following article was translated using both Microsoft Azure Open AI and Google Translation AI.

KOMPAS/LUCKY PRANSISKA

Battery-powered electronic cigarettes emit vapor from heating liquid tobacco or flavoring.

JAKARTA, KOMPAS — The addition of flavorings to cigarette products is a draw for someone to start smoking. In addition, flavorings can also encourage smokers to increase their cigarette consumption. Therefore, a comprehensive ban on flavorings in cigarette products needs to be applied, both in conventional and electronic cigarettes.

The Director of the Institute for Global Tobacco Control (IGTC) at the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Joanna Cohen, stated that several studies have proven that adding flavor can increase the appeal of cigarettes. This ultimately urges individuals to start smoking.

Also read: Electric Cigarettes Are Not a Tool to Stop Smoking

“The taste of cigarettes can contribute to attracting consumers, especially young people. Taste is also part of the cigarette industry's marketing techniques. This flavor can direct people to start using tobacco products," he said in a written answer received by Kompas in Jakarta, Thursday (13/7/2023).

The taste of cigarettes can contribute to attracting consumers, especially young people. Taste also becomes part of the marketing technique of the cigarette industry.

The results of the 2023 IGTC study from Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health showed that a number of cigarette products circulating in the Indonesian market have high levels of chemical flavorings, including eugenol and menthol. Of the 24 types of kretek cigarette brands and 9 types of white cigarette brands studied, significant eugenol content (clove flavoring compound) was detected in all types of kretek cigarette brands. Meanwhile, eugenol content was not found in all of the white cigarette brands studied.

IGTC

Study Results of the Institute for Global Tobacco Control (IGTC) Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health 2023.

In the study, it was found that 14 brands of kretek cigarettes contain menthol with levels ranging from 2.8 milligrams (mg) to 12.9 mg per stick. Menthol content was also found in five out of nine brands of white cigarettes with levels ranging from 3.6 mg to 10.8 mg per stick. Other chemical flavors such as fruit flavors were also found in both types of cigarettes.

Also read: Excise is Insufficient to Control Smokers

Joanna stated that besides taste, marketing techniques through visual taste, such as images, colors, and descriptions on cigarette packaging, can attract young consumers to try cigarette products. The existence of this taste can also encourage a smoker to increase the amount of cigarettes consumed. As a result, efforts to quit smoking become more difficult to do.

IGTC Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health post-doctoral researcher, Beladenta Amalia, said that flavorings have been proven to increase the attractiveness of tobacco products and their consumption levels. However, unfortunately, there is no ban on flavored tobacco products in Indonesia. Most adult smokers in Indonesia consume clove cigarettes mixed with cloves.

"From the perspective of public health, there is no justification for granting permission to use additives, such as flavorings that aim to enhance the appeal of tobacco products. Indonesia must comprehensively implement a ban on flavorings in tobacco products," he said.

KOMPAS/HENDRA A SETYAWAN

Dozens of cigarette brands, including kretek cigarettes, are being sold freely at a kiosk in the Ciracas area of Jakarta on Thursday (3/9/2015).

He stated that the prohibition of tobacco products with menthol flavor has been proven to reduce tobacco consumption and increase efforts to quit smoking. The prohibition of flavors in tobacco products needs to be strengthened by tightening regulations on the use of pictures, descriptions, and colors related to cigarette products that can attract consumers' attention.

Other regulations also need to be tightened to reduce the number of smokers in Indonesia. The policies that have been proven to reduce tobacco consumption include a ban on smoking in public places, a comprehensive ban on tobacco advertising, the provision of graphic health warning labels on cigarette packaging, anti-smoking campaigns, and increasing tobacco product taxes.

Also read: The Bad Effects Are Increasingly Obvious, E-Cigarette Rules Are Not Clear

Joanna added that effective tobacco control measures are urgently needed considering that the number of smokers in Indonesia is very large. There are at least 68 million adults in Indonesia who smoke and around 225,000 deaths occur per year due to tobacco products.

According to him, effective tobacco control efforts can help Indonesia prevent deaths and diseases caused by tobacco products. However, on the other hand, the negative impact can occur if no effective efforts are made.

"The losses that occurred not only affect the current generation but also future generations. It can also have a negative impact on the welfare and economic burden of the country," said Joanna.