Aldi Rizal, Chain-Smoking Indonesian Boy, Kicks The Habit

(AP) JAKARTA, Indonesia - Indonesia's smoking toddler has kicked the habit. Footage of 2-year-old Aldi Rizal -- who smoked up to two packs a day -- puffing away circulated the Internet in May and sparked an international outcry. His parents said he'd throw tantrums every time they tried to stop him from lighting up.

Psychologist Seto Mulyadi, who took the child into his own home as part of rehabilitation efforts, said Friday the boy has stopped asking for cigarettes.

He said Aldi picked up the habit because virtually every man in his fishing village in South Sumatra province smokes.

When removed from that environment, and offered a wide range of activities, including playing and drawing, he no longer had the urge, the psychologist said.

Aldi's father gave him his first cigarette when he was just 18-months-old, relatives have said.

WATCH: Classic footage of him puffing away:

Comments

[paxangelicus]

08:29 AM on 09/09/2010

a child's mind is really like a sponge...it absorbs everything it sees and thinks everything that adults do as "right" for them. children sometimes behave like adults, but most of the time, a lot of adults behave like children...look at this story...maybe the dad thought of his kid as a toy that he can play with, so he taught the young child to smoke at 18 months to amuse him and everyone around huh? making one's self happy at the expense of another life...what most do these days.

[american-dolt]

04:42 PM on 09/07/2010

Awesome, now to kick buttered bacon.

[hallowellboy]

10:29 AM on 09/07/2010

I just hope he doesn't gain weight.

[netaholic13]

04:57 AM on 09/07/2010

no wonder Indonesia is haven for tobacco giants, they even have customers as young as the child.

[m1jones]

09:53 PM on 09/05/2010

The father and mother need to be in rehab, too. They all need to quit smoking and learn how not to overfeed the poor kid.

[Balzac]

02:40 PM on 09/05/2010

Finally...

[Halsey]

02:21 PM on 09/05/2010

What happens when the child goes home to a dad that smokes? I'm so glad the boy kicked the big cig habit (it's a tough battle); but hope the father was made to attend SOME type of parenting class so he doesn't give the kid a smoke next time he acts up.

[Lairs]

11:03 PM on 09/04/2010

This is just sick. Poor child.

[FTracy3]

11:02 PM on 09/04/2010

This is a setback for that Fisher Price/Phillip Morris Merger

[americancolonyinhell]

12:04 PM on 09/07/2010

Nice.

[Bankerrkt]

10:33 PM on 09/04/2010

Maybe he could give the Professor a couple of tips on how to put the smokes down.

[wilray]

08:11 PM on 09/04/2010

Now if he could just give up the bottle.

[bibimimi]

05:34 PM on 09/04/2010

Did the Red Cross send him a case of nicotine patches?

[jdrourke]

04:32 PM on 09/04/2010

Hmm. Guess we'll see. What that kid ought to be kicking is his parents to the curb...

http://jdrourke.wordpress.com/2010/09/04/dear-chain-smoking-baby/

[Nobody78]

02:20 PM on 09/04/2010

What's wrong with people??

[ThermoChemist]

12:50 PM on 09/04/2010

Prepare for word that he's "taken up the Bible" as a replacement for his addiction..!

: )