Big Tobacco, Tiny Targets: discrediting tobacco industry tactics targeting kids through ads by school communities in 5 cities in Indonesia

Background and challenges to implementation Lack of strong laws has led tobacco companies such as PMI, BAT, and Djarum to systematically target children in Indonesia to start smoking through aggressive marketing strategies, including placing cigarette ads around schools. Influenced by ads, 30% of children picked up a smoke before age of 10. The LAF research in 2015 showed 85% of schools were surrounded by cigarette ads. Only six cities have issued bans on outdoor tobacco ads. Intervention or response LAF, supported by CTFK, trained 2,700 school children, teachers, and local leaders to do monitoring around 90 schools in 5 cities, and mobilise a grassroots campaign to discredit tobacco companies marketing to kids. About 60 cigarette brands put advertising next to schools during the groups' research between September 2016 and February 2017. The children removed tobacco ads near schools with help of local authorities, leaders, and kiosk owners; galvanized online campaign #RefuseToBeATarget; spoke to media; met with health and education officials. Results and lessons learnt In February 2017, 300 school representatives held a rally to call on President Jokowi to protect kids from Big Tobacco tactics. The students laid 120 mainly PMI and BAT tobacco advertisements removed around schools and displayed them as a “quilt” in front of Palace. The report, “The Invasion of Cigarette Ads around Schools" is being used by students from more cities to appeal to President Jokowi and presented to Education Ministry. This Indonesian initiative has spearheaded a global CTFK campaign discrediting Big Tobacco tactics targeting kids in 10 countries in Africa, Latin America, and Asia. A Global Report will be launched in early 2018. Conclusions and key recommendations The campaign got significant media coverage and attention of policy makers. LAF and young advocates are using this momentum to keep discrediting tobacco industry tactics. They will lobby government officials to scale up campaign in Child Friendly Cities program in 10 cities in 2018