The Effect of Health Warning Images on Cigarette Packs on Cigarette Consumption Levels for Ages 35 Years and Over in East Java Province

Abstract

The health warning image on cigarette packs can be called a pictorial health warning (PHW). PHW is an image warning of the dangers of smoking for health that must be included on cigarette packs in accordance with Minister of Health Regulation Number 28 of 2013 concerning the inclusion of health warnings and health information on tobacco product packaging. The aim of enacting this policy is to remind the public of the terrible impacts of smoking, and with this information, it can reduce the amount of cigarette consumption in Indonesia, especially for older people, such as those aged those aged 35  and older. This study is a type of secondary data research obtained from a survey conducted by the Central Statistics Agency (BPS), the Ministry of Health of the Republic of Indonesia, and the East Java Provincial Communication and Information Service regarding the percentage of population aged 15 years and over who smoked in the last month by regency or group age in East Java Province in each of the last months of 2018–2022. From the research results, it can be concluded that the inclusion of health warning images on cigarette packs on the level of cigarette consumption aged 25 years and over does not have a significant influence. The level of cigarette consumption among those aged 35 and over in East Java Province fluctuates every year. This proves that health warning images on cigarette packs cannot change smoking habits among the people of East Java Province, especially cigarette consumers aged 35 years and over.