Jakarta. The Indonesian Vape Retailers Association (Arvindo) has instructed all member stores to stop selling electronic cigarettes to customers under the age of 21.

“We have issued an official circular prohibiting vape shops from selling to underage consumers and requiring stores to display 21+ signage at their storefronts,” Fachmi Kurnia, chairman of Arvindo, said on Wednesday. “Retailers are also required to ask customers to show valid identification.”

Arvindo and the Tar and Smoke Free Movement (Gebrak) said they support government efforts to prevent individuals under 21 from accessing electronic cigarettes, citing the need to protect children and adolescents. Both groups stressed that alternative tobacco products should only be used by adult smokers who have difficulty quitting conventional cigarettes.

On regulation, Arvindo urged policymakers to adopt a science-based approach to ensure rules are grounded in evidence and aligned with public health objectives. The association also called on the Health Ministry to consider vaping as a potential harm-reduction tool, pointing to regulatory approaches adopted in several other countries.

Support for harm reduction was cited in a 2025 study published by the JAMA Network, titled Prevalence of Popular Smoking Cessation Aids in England and Associations With Quit Success. The study, involving 25,094 smokers, found electronic cigarettes were the most commonly used cessation aid, accounting for 40.2 percent of quit attempts between 2023 and 2024.

Separately, Gebrak chairman Garindra Kartasasmita highlighted the role of vape retailers in educating consumers about the risks of smoke and tar, as well as informing them about alternative tobacco products.

“Vape shops should not only sell products but also serve as partners in public education,” he said.

Data from the Health Ministry’s 2023 National Health Survey estimates that Indonesia has around 70 million active smokers, with 7.4 percent aged between 10 and 18. The Global Youth Tobacco Survey shows smoking prevalence among students aged 13–15 rose from 18.3 percent in 2016 to 19.2 percent in 2019. The 2023 survey also identified those aged 15–19 as the largest group of smokers, followed by children aged 10–14.