Jakarta Considers Banning Vape in Public in New Law

DKI DPRD Special Committee Proposes Including E-cigarettes Alongside Tobacco

The Jakarta Provincial Government and the Regional People’s Representative Council (DPRD DKI Jakarta) are planning to update the city’s regulations on Smoke-Free Areas (KTR) this year, with a key proposal to explicitly include electronic cigarettes (vapes) alongside traditional tobacco cigarettes.

A special committee (pansus) formed by the DPRD DKI Jakarta is currently studying the Draft Regional Regulation (Raperda) on Smoke-Free Areas. Ali Lubis, a member of this special committee, stated that a significant proposal emerging from their meetings is to extend the existing prohibitions on smoking in public spaces to cover the use of vapes and other electronic cigarettes.

“In the Special Committee meeting on Smoke-Free Areas, there have been several proposals, including regional regulations regarding the prohibition of the use of vapes and electronic cigarettes like tobacco cigarettes,” Ali Lubis explained on Wednesday, May 7.

Addressing a Regulatory Gap

Currently, Jakarta’s rules on smoking in public are primarily governed by Governor’s Regulation Number 40 of 2020 (amending an earlier 2012 regulation). However, according to Ali Lubis, this existing regulation only explicitly addresses the prohibition of tobacco cigarette use. He noted the massive increase in the use of electronic cigarettes in Jakarta, which are not currently covered by the same specific usage restrictions in public areas.

He argued that this creates discriminatory treatment, as vaping shares similar negative health impacts and interferes with the public’s right to be free from smoke exposure. “This clearly shows discrimination… where only tobacco cigarettes are prohibited while vapes and electronic cigarettes are not regulated,” Ali stated. “Therefore, regulations regarding areas for the use of vapes and electronic cigarettes must be strictly regulated in regional regulations.”

Scope of Proposed Ban and Sanctions

The proposal aims to ban vaping in the same public spaces where smoking is already prohibited under existing regulations. These areas typically include:

Public places (parks, squares, roads)
Workplaces (offices, factories)
Educational institutions (schools, campuses)
Healthcare facilities (hospitals, clinics)
Public transportation
Children’s play areas
Places of worship

Furthermore, Ali Lubis emphasized the need to include clear sanctions within the new KTR Draft Regional Regulation for violators of the expanded ban (covering both smoking and vaping). These sanctions could potentially include fines and possibly criminal penalties, mirroring enforcement mechanisms for other public order violations.

The ratification of this Raperda later this year would mark a significant tightening of regulations surrounding vape use in Indonesia’s capital city, aligning the rules for electronic cigarettes more closely with those for traditional tobacco.

News source: Tak Cuma Tembakau, DPRD DKI Usul Raperda Kawasan Tanpa Rokok Juga Larang Vape di Ruang Publik

Author
Recent Posts

Matthew Ma

Marketing at Ecigator

With over a decade of experience in the e-cigarette industry, Matthew Ma is a seasoned expert in both the manufacturing and usage aspects of vaping products. His extensive background has provided him with a deep understanding of the intricacies and evolving dynamics of e-cigarettes.