In a bold and pioneering move for global public health, the Maldives has cemented its status as a leader in tobacco control by implementing the world's only 'generational' smoking prohibition. Effective November 1, 2025, the new law bans anyone born on or after January 1, 2007, from legally purchasing, using, or being sold any tobacco products within the Indian Ocean archipelago. The move, spearheaded by President Mohamed Muizzu's administration, aims to actively "protect public health and promote a tobacco-free generation."
The regulation is comprehensive, applying to all forms of tobacco and placing a strict onus on retailers to verify a customer's age before any sale. This means that as the protected generation comes of age, they will never legally acquire the right to smoke, effectively phasing out tobacco use for an entire demographic and all those who follow. The ambition is clear: to ensure that the Maldivian people, starting with this cohort, grow up without the risk of nicotine addiction.
A Ban with Wide-Ranging Application
What makes the Maldivian law particularly striking is its broad scope, extending its reach beyond its own citizens to the very industry that sustains its luxury tourism: visitors. Tourists to the nation of 1,191 scattered coral islets are also subject to the generational ban, a measure that underscores the government's unwavering commitment to the policy.
Furthermore, the new provision complements an already stringent regulatory framework by maintaining a comprehensive ban on the import, sale, distribution, possession, and use of electronic cigarettes and vaping products. Crucially, this existing prohibition applies to all individuals, regardless of age or birth year. Penalties for non-compliance are substantial, with retailers who sell tobacco to an underage person facing a hefty fine of 50,000 Maldivian rufiyaa (approximately $3,200), while individuals caught using banned vape devices face a 5,000 rufiyaa fine (about $320).
Global Ambitions Meet Legislative Uncertainty
The Maldives now stands alone in actively enforcing this landmark public health measure, particularly in light of recent legislative reversals elsewhere. The concept of a generational smoking ban first gained significant international traction with New Zealand, which in 2022 became the first country to enact such a law. However, in a surprising turn of events, the new coalition government in New Zealand repealed the pioneering legislation in November 2023, less than a year after its introduction, citing concerns over the black market and using the projected tax revenue for other priorities.
Meanwhile, a similar generational ban remains in the legislative process in Britain, keeping the global spotlight on the viability of this strategy. The Maldivian experience will undoubtedly be closely watched by health advocates and policymakers worldwide as a real-world test case. Proponents argue that such a measure is the most powerful tool to end the devastating public health and economic toll of smoking, while critics often raise concerns about personal freedom and the potential for an illicit market.
By moving ahead with this ambitious generational prohibition, the Maldives has embraced a long-term vision, making an emphatic statement that the health of its future generations outweighs the immediate commercial pressures. The tiny island nation has set a new global benchmark for tobacco control, challenging others to follow its lead in promoting a truly smoke-free future.
