The Maldives Becomes First Country to Ban Smoking for an Entire Generation
The Maldives has made history by becoming the first country in the world to completely ban smoking, buying, or selling tobacco for anyone born after January 1st, 2007. The new law, which came into effect on November 1st, applies to both locals and tourists visiting the island nation.
The country’s Ministry of Health said the move will “protect public health and promote a tobacco-free generation,” adding that it “reflects the government’s strong commitment to protecting young people from the harms of tobacco.” Under the new rules, retailers must check IDs before selling any tobacco products, and anyone caught breaking the law faces hefty fines of up to 50,000 rufiyaa ($3,200) for selling to someone underage.
The ban applies to all forms of tobacco, and builds on the Maldives’ earlier crackdown on vaping. Last year, authorities banned the import, sale, and use of all e-cigarettes, regardless of age. “These new stylish gadgets are tactics of the industry to approach the younger generations to uptake addictive processes, which definitely harms their health,” said Ahmed Afaal, vice chair of the country’s tobacco control board.
Despite concerns that the bans on smoking and vaping might deter visitors, officials insist that tourism won’t decline. “People don’t come to the Maldives because they're able to smoke. They come for the beaches, they come for the sea, they come for the sun, and they come for the fresh air,” Afaal told the BBC, adding that tourist numbers are still rising.
The government has also announced plans to open anti-smoking clinics across the islands, offering medication to help current smokers quit. President Mohamed Muizzu even floated the idea of cash rewards for communities that go completely smoke-free.
The World Health Organization estimates tobacco kills more than seven million people worldwide each year. A 2021 national survey found over a quarter of Maldivian adults used tobacco, with even higher rates among teenagers.
Other nations have discussed similar laws, but none have gone as far. New Zealand passed a generational smoking ban in 2022 — prohibiting tobacco sales to anyone born after 2009 — but the policy was reversed the following year before it was due to go into effect. Meanwhile, the UK is debating a comparable bill that would ban tobacco for anyone born after 2009 and tighten vaping laws. It is currently in the House of Lords.
For now, the Maldives stands alone as the first country to officially make future generations tobacco-free.
