WORLD FIRST: MALDIVES LAUNCHES ‘GENERATIONAL SMOKING BAN’ – LIFELONG PROHIBITION FOR THOSE BORN POST-2007

A Bold Public Health Move: Maldives Smoking Ban Makes the Nation the Only Country with a Permanent Age-Based Tobacco Prohibition

MALÉ, Maldives – The Maldives, the luxury tourism destination in the Indian Ocean, has taken a historic step to safeguard public health. As of November 1, 2025, the country became the only nation in the world to enforce a “generational smoking ban.” The new regulation permanently prohibits anyone born on or after January 1, 2007, from purchasing, using, or selling any tobacco products, even upon reaching adulthood.

The Maldivian Ministry of Health announced the decision shows the country’s strong commitment to a healthier future free from tobacco-related diseases. President Mohamed Muizzu championed the law, which officially came into effect after a six-month preparation period.

📜 BAN SCOPE: TOURISTS AND E-CIGARETTES INCLUDED

The Maldives Smoking Ban is expansive; it affects all visitors to the country and covers all forms of tobacco and nicotine products:

• Target Population: The law permanently prohibits anyone born on or after January 1, 2007, from purchasing, using, or selling tobacco products.
• E-Cigarette Prohibition: In addition to tobacco products, the country has enforced a complete ban on the import, sale, possession, and use of electronic cigarettes and vaping devices. This means the ban applies to all age groups for these specific products, establishing the Maldives as one of the world’s strictest nations on vaping.
• Tourists Included: The restrictions apply not only to Maldivian citizens but also to tourists visiting the archipelago. Therefore, foreign visitors born in 2007 or later cannot use tobacco products during their stay.

The Ministry of Health described the new law as “a courageous, scientifically-backed step to ensure that young Maldivians grow up free from the deadly influence of tobacco.” Furthermore, this decision aligns with the Maldives’ obligations under the World Health Organization’s Framework Convention on Tobacco Control.

💰 HEAVY PENALTIES AND RETAILER OBLIGATIONS

The government established severe financial penalties and strict duties for retailers to ensure the ban’s effectiveness:

• Seller Penalties: Retailers caught selling tobacco products to an underage person face a substantial fine of 50,000 Rufiyaa (approximately $3,200 USD).
• Vaping Penalty: Individuals caught using e-cigarettes or vaping devices face a fine of 5,000 Rufiyaa (approximately $320 USD).
• Age Verification: Consequently, the new rules require retailers to meticulously verify the age of buyers before making any tobacco sale.

The Ministries of Finance and Health announced they would collaborate to improve access to tobacco cessation services across the country.

🌍 GLOBAL CONTEXT AND THE MALDIVIAN ROLE

The Maldives Smoking Ban follows similar initiatives attempted globally, many of which failed to stick:

• New Zealand Example: New Zealand initially approved a similar generational ban in 2022. However, the subsequent government repealed the law in November 2023, less than a year after its enactment.
• UK Proposal: A similar proposed law targeting those born after 2009 is still undergoing debate in the United Kingdom’s legislative process.

Despite this mixed international background, the Maldives has become the first nation to successfully implement a permanent generational ban on tobacco use nationwide. This move sets a powerful precedent for global public health policy. UNICEF and the World Health Organization (WHO) have praised the action. The WHO Director-General specifically commended President Muizzu, stating that the Maldives’ actions serve as an inspiring example for other nations working toward a tobacco-free future.