Maldives has implemented a generational smoking ban, under which any person born after January 1, 2007, is prohibited from purchasing, using, or selling any type of tobacco.

Effective from November 1, 2025, this policy makes this island nation in the Indian Ocean the first and only country to implement such a law, marking a revolutionary step toward public health protection and youth welfare.

This law covers all types of tobacco products and applies to both citizens and tourists in the Maldives, which is famous for its luxurious island resorts.

Provision for punishment

Retailers must verify age before sale; failure to do so may result in a fine of 50,000 Maldivian Rufiyaa (approximately $3,200).

It also applies to tourists visiting the country, which consists of 1,191 small coral islands stretching about 800 kilometers (500 miles) across the equator, known for its luxury tourism.

Maldives also bans all vaping and e-cigarette products, regardless of age, and possession or use can result in a fine of 5,000 Rufiyaa ($320).

This sets Maldives apart from other countries that are considering similar policies. Although New Zealand implemented a generational smoking ban in 2022, it repealed the law in November 2023, and the UK is still in the legislative process of finalizing its version.

Comparison with other countries

New Zealand: The first country to implement a generational smoking ban, which was repealed in 2023.

United Kingdom: A similar law is still in the parliamentary process.

Australia and Canada: Focused on graphic packaging and public restrictions, but have not yet proposed generational bans.

WHO member countries adopted the WHO Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (WHO FCTC) in 2003. Currently, 183 countries are parties to this treaty.

Maldives

It is an archipelagic country in South Asia, located in the eastern Arabian Sea within the northern Indian Ocean. Maldives lies southwest of Sri Lanka and India, about 750 kilometers (470 miles; 400 nautical miles) from the mainland of the Asian continent.

The chain of 26 atolls of the Maldives extends across the equator from Ihavandhippolhu Atoll in the north to Addu Atoll in the south.

Maldives is the smallest country in Asia. Its land area is only 298 square kilometers (115 square miles), but it spans about 90,000 square kilometers (35,000 square miles) of the sea, making it one of the most geographically dispersed sovereign states in the world.

Malé is the capital and most populous city, traditionally called the “King’s Island,” where ancient royal dynasties ruled from its central location.

In 1887, Maldives became a British protectorate. It gained independence from the United Kingdom in 1965 and became a presidential republic in 1968 with an elected People’s Majlis.