The Maldives has officially enforced the Generational Ban on Tobacco, making it a criminal offence for anyone born on or after 1 January 2007 to buy, use, or possess tobacco products. 

The ban, which took effect at midnight, is a historic step towards creating a tobacco-free generation and places the Maldives among the world’s most progressive nations in tobacco control.

The policy was enacted through the Second Amendment to the Tobacco Control Act (Act No. 15/2010), ratified by President Dr Mohamed Muizzu on 21 May 2024. The law prohibits the sale and use of tobacco products by those born in or after 2007 and bars individuals under the age of 21 from participating in any tobacco-related commercial activity. It also enforces a nationwide ban on vaping and e-cigarettes, prohibits the import of tobacco production machinery, and outlaws all forms of advertising, sponsorship, and promotion.

The World Health Organization (WHO) South-East Asia Regional Office has praised the Maldives’ decision, describing it as a bold and unprecedented move that sets a strong precedent for other countries in the region. According to WHO, the generational ban is a landmark achievement that will protect youth and future generations from tobacco addiction.

President Dr Muizzu has said the measure demonstrates the Administration’s commitment to protecting public health, noting that tobacco use is a leading cause of chronic illnesses and accounts for 84 per cent of deaths linked to non-communicable diseases in the country. National surveys show that 21.8 per cent of Maldivians aged 15 to 29 consume tobacco products, while the Global Youth Tobacco Survey (2019) found that 45.7 per cent of schoolchildren aged 13 to 15 had used tobacco.