Maldives Begins ‘Generational Ban’ On Smoking

The Republic of Maldives has formally commenced the implementation of a comprehensive national prohibition on smoking targeting every person born following January 1, 2007, establishing it as the inaugural nation worldwide to entirely execute a generational restriction on tobacco consumption, as reported by the Ministry of Health.

The fresh directive, which took effect starting November 1, was unveiled during the tenure of President Mohamed Muizzu’s government earlier this year and seeks to safeguard “protecting public health and promoting 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 said in an official statement. “The ban applies to all forms of tobacco, and retailers are required to verify age prior to sale.”

This policy extends beyond just residents to encompass tourists visiting the archipelago country, consisting of over 1,190 coral atolls dispersed throughout the Indian Ocean and renowned for its upscale vacation experiences.

Officials highlighted that this initiative constitutes an element of a larger plan designed to reduce tobacco consumption and deter smoking among young people, further stating that compliance monitoring will remain rigorous.

The Ministry of Health likewise reaffirmed that the Maldives upholds a thorough prohibition on e-cigarettes and vaping items, encompassing their importation, marketing, dissemination, ownership, and utilization, irrespective of the person’s age.

Individuals discovered distributing tobacco goods to those below the permitted age will incur penalties amounting to 50,000 rufiyaa (roughly $3,200), whereas persons employing vaping apparatus will receive fines of 5,000 rufiyaa (around $320).

A representative from the ministry observed, “This generational policy ensures that future generations are free from the harms of tobacco addiction and the burden of tobacco-related diseases.”

Although the United Kingdom continues to deliberate over an equivalent initiative, the Maldives presently remains the sole entity actively applying such a regulation. New Zealand, which initially pioneered the adoption of a generational smoking restriction, overturned the legislation in November 2023, within under twelve months of its approval.

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Nnamdi Okoli