According to a report by the Central Statistics Agency (BPS), of all Indonesian residents aged 5 and above who regularly smoke, 63.72% are heavy smokers who consume more than 60 cigarettes per week.
The highest proportion of heavy smokers is found in Jambi Province, at 87.79% of the total smokers aged 5 and above in the province.
Heavy smokers are also prevalent in West Sulawesi, Riau, Bangka Belitung Islands, Bengkulu, South Kalimantan, Central Kalimantan, West Kalimantan, West Sumatra, and Southeast Sulawesi, with proportions as shown in the graph.
Starting next year, these smokers will have to prepare more money to buy cigarettes. The government will increase the excise tax on tobacco products (CHT) by an average of 10% in 2023 and 2024.
The government has set a plan for varied excise tax increases for machine-made clove cigarettes (SKM), machine-made white cigarettes (SPM), and hand-rolled clove cigarettes (SKP).
The excise tax on SKM groups I and II will be increased by an average of 11.5% to 11.75%. The excise tax on SPM groups I and II will increase by 11% to 12%, while SKP groups I, II, and III will increase by 5%.
Finance Minister Sri Mulyani emphasized that this excise increase aims to reduce the number of smokers and improve public health.
"In previous years, we increased the excise tax on cigarettes, which caused cigarette prices to increase, so the affordability of cigarettes also decreased. Therefore, it is hoped that consumption will decrease," said Sri Mulyani in a press release on Thursday (3/11/2022).