Maldives Enforces World’s First Generational Tobacco Ban
- The Maldives became the first country in the world to enforce a generational tobacco ban on 1 November 2025.
- Under the new law, any person born on or after 1 January 2007 is prohibited from purchasing, using, or being sold tobacco products.
- The ban covers all types of tobacco products, including cigarettes, cigars, and smokeless tobacco.
- Retailers are legally required to verify the age of all tobacco buyers before making any sale.
- The restriction also applies to foreign tourists and visitors, not just citizens or residents of the Maldives.
- The government has also banned the import, sale, possession, and use of e-cigarettes and vaping products for all age groups.
- Violation of the law can result in heavy penalties, including a fine of 50,000 Maldivian rufiyaa (about USD 3,200) for selling tobacco to restricted persons.
- Use of banned vape devices may attract a fine of 5,000 Maldivian rufiyaa (about USD 320).
- The policy was introduced under the Second Amendment to the Tobacco Control Act (Act No. 15/2010) in 2025.
- The initiative was proposed by President Mohamed Muizzu as part of the government’s public health reforms.
- The objective of the ban is to create a tobacco-free generation and protect youth from health hazards associated with smoking.
- This legislation aligns with the World Health Organization’s Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (WHO FCTC).
- Before this move, the Maldives had already implemented strict tobacco control measures, including raising the minimum age for tobacco purchase and banning vaping imports.
- The Maldives is currently the only country in the world to implement a nationwide generational ban on tobacco.
- New Zealand had earlier introduced a similar policy but repealed it in November 2023, making the Maldives the first to enforce it successfully.
- The United Kingdom and a few other nations have proposed similar bans but have not yet implemented them.
- The enforcement of the ban poses challenges, particularly because the Maldivian economy is heavily dependent on tourism, which includes many smoking visitors.
- The government faces concerns related to black market trading and illegal supply of tobacco products.
- Surveys by organizations such as UNICEF (2025) show that youth in the Maldives still face exposure to pro-tobacco influences.
- Despite challenges, the ban is expected to strengthen public health, reduce future smoking rates, and set a global precedent for tobacco control policies.
