Indonesian lawmakers are drafting a bill that would ban tobacco companies from advertising or sponsoring sporting and entertainment events, local media reported Tuesday.

The bill, which is sure to face opposition from Indonesia's tobacco lobby, also envisages doubling taxes on cigarettes to more than 60 per cent in the country of 220 million people.
Cigarette manufacturers are currently free to advertise across all media and are major sponsors of sports events, including local broadcasts of European football matches, and rock and pop concerts.
Last year Philip Morris International bought a 40 stake in Indonesia's third-largest cigarette producer, highlighting its and other companies' efforts to expand their presence in foreign markets while health concerns whittle away revenues in Europe and North America. Most Indonesians smoke kreteks, cigarettes flavoured with cloves produced by local manufacturers, though western brands are gaining popularity. (pi)