Maldives bans smoking for younger generations

The Maldives has banned young people born on or after 1 January 2007 from smoking tobacco, becoming the only country in the world to impose a national generational tobacco ban.

The archipelago’s health ministry announced on Saturday that it will be illegal for younger generations to use, buy or sell tobacco in the country.

The ban “reflects the government’s strong commitment to protecting young people from the harms of tobacco”, the ministry said.

Ahmed Afaal, deputy chairman of the archipelago’s tobacco control board, told the BBC World Service’s Newshour program that the country’s blanket ban on cigarettes last year was “a good step towards a generation of tobacco-free citizens”.

The new ban “applies to all forms of tobacco and retailers are required to verify age before sale,” the health ministry said, adding that it was in line with the Maldives’ obligations under the World Health Organization’s Framework Convention on Tobacco Control.

According to the UN health body, this convention “provides a global response to a global problem – namely, the tobacco epidemic”.

Mr Afaal said the country’s crackdown on vaping was an important first step because “these new stylish gadgets are an industry tactic to get younger generations to adopt addictive processes, which is definitely harmful to their health”.

Last year, the Maldives banned anyone, regardless of age, from importing, selling, possessing, using or distributing e-cigarettes and vaping products.

Tourists coming to visit the Maldivian islands will also have to abide by the law, but Mr Afaal said the smoking ban would not have a detrimental impact on tourism.

“People don’t come to the Maldives because they can smoke. They come for the beaches, they come for the sea, they come for the sun and they come for the fresh air,” he added.

Citing tourism figures, Mr Afaal claimed that despite the new regulations there had been no cancellations of tourist bookings and the number of arrivals had grown over the past year.

“We anticipate more than 2 million (tourists) next year,” he said.

New Zealand’s plans to adopt a generational smoking ban were scrapped in 2023 after a new government took power.

The move was seen as a blow to many health experts and Especially Maori peoplewhich have one of the highest rates of smoking.

Last year, then UK Prime Minister Rishi Sunak hoped to introduce legislation to ban young people born on or after 2009 from smoking.

New version of the legislationintroduced by the current government, passed through the House of Commons and is now at committee stage in the House of Lords – approaching the final hurdles before receiving royal assent.