Indonesia pushes sugary‑drink tax and faces tobacco industry pushback over plain‑packaging plan

Environmental and consumer‑health groups in Indonesia have called on the government to impose a tax on packaged sugary drinks, arguing that the beverages generate 260‑520 tons of plastic waste daily in Jakarta and contribute to non‑communicable diseases such as diabetes, obesity and kidney failure. They cite national waste data and urge the authorities to enforce existing waste‑management laws against manufacturers.

At the same time, the Indonesian tobacco sector warns that a government move toward standardized plain packaging for cigarettes – using Pantone 448 C – could fuel the illegal cigarette market. Industry estimates illegal products already account for about 14 % of sales (roughly 40 billion sticks) and fear that a uniform appearance will make it harder for consumers to tell legal from illegal products, potentially reducing tax revenues and harming the legal market.