The Maldives Ban Tobacco for Younger Generations

The Maldives has become the first country in the world to implement a national ban on tobacco for younger generations. Anyone born on or after January 1, 2007, is now prohibited from smoking, purchasing, or selling tobacco within the archipelago.

The Ministry of Health announced on Saturday that this measure "reflects the government's strong commitment to protecting youth from the harms of tobacco."

Ahmed Afaal, vice president of the Maldives Tobacco Control Council, told the BBC that the general ban on vaping, adopted last year, "was an important step towards a tobacco-free generation."

The ministry clarified that the new law "applies to all forms of tobacco" and that merchants must now verify the age of their customers before any sale. This decision aligns with the country’s commitments to the World Health Organization's Framework Convention on Tobacco Control, which aims to provide "a global response to a global epidemic."

Ahmed Afaal added that the crackdown on vaping had been a decisive step, emphasizing that "these modern gadgets are merely a strategy by the industry to entice young people and lead them towards harmful addictive behaviors."

Since 2024, it has been prohibited in the Maldives to import, sell, possess, use, or distribute electronic cigarettes and vaping products, regardless of the user's age.

Tourists must also comply with this law. However, according to Ahmed Afaal, the measure will not have any negative impact on the tourism sector:

"Visitors do not come to the Maldives to smoke, but to enjoy the beaches, the sea, the sun, and the clean air," he stated.

Citing tourism statistics, he added that no cancellations had been recorded since the announcement of these new regulations and that the number of arrivals had even increased over the past year.

"We expect to welcome more than two million tourists next year," he asserted.

In comparison, New Zealand had considered a similar ban before abandoning it in 2023 following a change in government. This decision was seen as a setback for public health experts, especially within the Māori community, where smoking rates remain particularly high.

In the UK, a similar bill aimed at prohibiting tobacco for people born after 2009 has passed several parliamentary stages and is now in the House of Lords, the final step before its definitive adoption.

Source: BBC