MALE, Maldives: The Maldives has become the world’s first country to introduce a generational smoking ban, permanently prohibiting anyone born on or after 1 January 2007 from purchasing, using, or selling tobacco products, the Health Ministry said.
The law, which came into effect on 1 November 2025, applies not only to Maldivian citizens but also to foreign residents and visitors to the Indian Ocean island nation, renowned for its luxury tourism and coral atolls.
The Health Ministry said the measure was part of President Mohamed Muizzu’s broader public health agenda to “protect citizens and foster a tobacco-free generation.”
“Under the new provision, individuals born on or after 1 January 2007 are prohibited from purchasing, using, or being sold tobacco products within the Maldives,” the ministry said in a statement quoted by AFP.
“The ban applies to all forms of tobacco, and retailers are required to verify age prior to sale,” the ministry said.
Officials added that the prohibition represents a generational approach to ending tobacco use in the country.
Violations will attract heavy penalties, with fines of 50,000 Maldivian rufiyaa (about US$3,200) for those caught selling tobacco to anyone in the banned age group.
Ban applies to locals and tourists
According to the ministry, the ban applies universally to residents and visitors, making the Maldives the first country to impose such a rule on tourists as well.
Retailers across the country have been instructed to strictly enforce age verification.
Health authorities have also reiterated that the Maldives already maintains a comprehensive ban on e-cigarettes and vaping products for all age groups. Using a vape device can result in a fine of 5,000 rufiyaa (about US$320).
Following and surpassing global trends
The Maldives’ generational smoking ban mirrors similar legislative efforts elsewhere. The United Kingdom is currently debating a “smoke-free generation” bill that would outlaw tobacco sales to anyone born after 1 January 2009.
New Zealand had been the first to announce such a policy in 2022 but repealed the law a year later before it took effect, following a change in government.
The Maldivian government, by contrast, has formally enacted and implemented its ban, becoming the only nation in the world with an active lifelong smoking prohibition for future generations.
The Health Ministry said the initiative aligns with its long-term plan to reduce smoking-related diseases and healthcare costs. Tobacco-related illnesses account for a growing share of the Maldives’ public health expenditure.
