Father responsible for cigarette addiction of 2-yr. old

Ardi Rizal, the two-year-old Indonesian toddler shocked the world when a video was released in You-tube.

The boy’s smoking addiction highlighted Indonesia’s light rules on smoking and the lack of control families had on their children.

His father who spoke of his son’s cigarette addiction said that he gave him his first cigarette when he was only 16-months-old and that the boy had not
stopped ever since.

Ardi’s parents said that their son had violent tantrums and started to scream when they refused to give him cigarettes.

People who saw the video were further shocked in witnessing the acrobatic moves that the toddler did while smoking. His parents were seen laughing in the background.

National Commission for Child Protection chairman Seto Mulyadi said “The boy has been able to reduce his cigarette intake significantly, very quickly, after the treatment. The therapy focused on playing – we occupied him with toys so that he forgets cigarettes,”

Mr Mulyadi said “The boy likes singing so we tell him that if he continues smoking, he won’t be able to be a singer one day, and it works.”

Indonesia is one of the leading countries in the world in both manufacturing and smoking cigarettes. Many people in the country do not know the health risks associated with smoking. – ?