In a landmark policy move, President Dr Mohamed Muizzu has approved a generational tobacco ban that will prohibit the sale, purchase, and consumption of tobacco products for anyone born on or after January 1, 2007.
The decision was made during a Cabinet meeting held on Sunday, following a proposal submitted by the Ministry of Health. The initiative is part of the administration’s broader public health agenda and aims to create a tobacco-free generation in the Maldives.
Under the plan, enforcement authorities will be given a six-month window to amend existing regulations once the law is formally passed and ratified. The legislation is slated to come into effect on November 1, 2025.
The Ministry of Finance and the Ministry of Health have also been directed to collaborate on expanding access to tobacco cessation services nationwide, ensuring that current users who wish to quit receive the necessary support.
President Muizzu’s decision follows a public poll he conducted on his official X (formerly Twitter) account, asking Maldivians for their views on the minimum age for implementing a generational tobacco ban. This marked the first time a sitting Maldivian president crowdsourced public input on a key policy issue through social media.
In the weeks leading up to the decision, the President had also urged tobacco vendors to consider phasing out tobacco sales and look into alternative business models, emphasizing that the move was aimed at safeguarding the health of future generations.
Once enacted, the Maldives will join a small but growing list of countries exploring generational bans on tobacco, positioning itself as a regional leader in bold public health reform.
