The Maldives Ministry of Health has announced that the country is introducing a smoking ban for everyone born after January 1, 2007. This is reported by The Guardian.
Thus, the Maldives has become the only country in the world where such a ban extends to subsequent generations. The initiative, proposed by the President of the Republic of Maldives, Mohamed Muizzu, at the beginning of the year, officially came into force on November 1.
“According to the new regulation, persons born on or after January 1, 2007, are prohibited from purchasing, using or selling tobacco products in the Maldives,” the Ministry of Health said.
The department clarified that the ban applies to all types of tobacco products, and sellers are required to verify the age of buyers before making a sale.
The decision also applies to foreign tourists visiting the country. Violating the rules on selling tobacco products to minors carries a fine of 50,000 rupiah (approximately $3,200), while using vapes carries a fine of 5,000 rupiah (approximately $320).
A similar ban proposed in the United Kingdom is still under legislative review, while New Zealand — the first country to pass a law banning smoking for future generations — repealed it in November 2023, less than a year after it was passed.
