The Republic of the Maldives has enacted a pioneering public health law, establishing itself as the first nation to implement a permanent, generation-based prohibition on tobacco.
Effective November 1st, the new legislation makes it illegal for any citizen or visitor born on or after January 1, 2007, to purchase or use tobacco products. The measure, championed by the country’s leadership, aims to cultivate a tobacco-free citizenry and safeguard long-term public health.
Authorities have clarified that the ban encompasses all forms of tobacco. Retailers are now legally obligated to verify a buyer’s date of birth before any sale, ensuring compliance with the generational cutoff. The law extends across the entire archipelago, applying equally to residents and the international tourists for which the island nation is renowned.
In a related move, the government reaffirmed its existing total ban on electronic cigarettes and vaping products. This prohibition, which covers import, sale, and use, remains in force for all individuals irrespective of age.
Penalties for violations are significant. Selling tobacco to anyone covered by the generational ban carries a fine of 50,000 Maldivian Rufiyaa. The use of prohibited vaping devices is also subject to substantial financial penalties.
This legislative action places the Maldives at the forefront of a novel anti-smoking strategy. While other nations, including the United Kingdom, have considered similar generational phase-out models, the Maldives is the first to bring such a policy into full effect. The move comes after New Zealand, which had pioneered the approach, repealed its own generational smoking law late last year.