The Maldives has enacted a world-first law banning tobacco sales, use, and possession for anyone born on or after January 1, 2007, marking a new era in global public health.
In a landmark move, the Maldives has become the first country in the world to impose a generational ban on tobacco use.
The new law, which took effect on November 1, 2025, prohibits the buying, selling, or consumption of tobacco products for anyone born on or after January 1, 2007.
The ban builds on the country’s earlier crackdown on vaping and electronic cigarettes, which were outlawed in late 2024.
According to the Ministry of Health, the initiative aims to create a tobacco-free generation and reduce the nation’s smoking rate, which once stood at over 25%.
Public health experts have hailed the move as historic, while the government plans to open Anti-Smoking Clinics and introduce cash rewards for communities that successfully go smoke-free.
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