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Maldives smoking ban: In an unprecedented move aimed at creating a tobacco-free generation, Maldives has officially banned the sale and use of all tobacco products for anyone born on or after January 1, 2007. The law, which took effect on November 1, makes the island nation the first and only country in the world to implement a generational ban on smoking.

Bold Public Health Initiative

The decision was announced by the Maldivian Health Ministry, following a directive from President Mohamed Muizzu. Officials said the ban is part of a broader effort to “protect public health and promote a tobacco-free generation.”

“Under the new provision, individuals born on or after January 1, 2007, are prohibited from purchasing, using, or being sold tobacco products within the Maldives,” the ministry stated. The restriction applies to all forms of tobacco, including cigarettes and smokeless products. Retailers are now required to verify age before making any sale.

Applies To locals And Visitors Alike

Unusually, the new law will also apply to tourists visiting the Maldives, a country renowned for its luxury resorts and pristine coral islands. With more than 1,100 islands spread across the Indian Ocean, the Maldives attracts millions of international visitors every year.

Health officials clarified that no exemptions would be made for foreigners. “The law is universal. Anyone born after January 1, 2007, regardless of nationality, will not be allowed to purchase or use tobacco products while in the Maldives,” a senior ministry official said.

Tough Penalties For violations

The new regulations carry strict penalties for those who violate them. Selling tobacco to a prohibited person will invite a fine of 50,000 Maldivian rufiyaa (approximately USD 3,200). Individuals found using electronic cigarettes or vape devices face fines of 5,000 rufiyaa (around USD 320).

The Maldives already enforces a nationwide ban on the import, sale, distribution, and use of e-cigarettes and vaping products, regardless of age. Officials said this was a continuation of the country’s strong stance against tobacco and nicotine use.

The Maldives now stands alone in enforcing such a sweeping generational ban. A similar measure proposed in the United Kingdom, which would ban tobacco sales to anyone born after 2009 is still being debated in Parliament. New Zealand, which became the first country to enact a comparable law in 2022, repealed it less than a year later following a change in government.

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Officials said the long-term goal is to gradually phase out smoking and tobacco use entirely in the Maldives. “This is a generational investment in public health. We want to ensure that our youth grow up free from the harms of tobacco,” said a ministry spokesperson.

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With a population of just over half a million, the Maldives hopes the strict enforcement of the ban will lead to a measurable decline in tobacco consumption and related illnesses over the coming decades.

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