The Maldives will attempt to eradicate smoking in the luxurious South Asian archipelago in 2025 by banning the purchase of cigarettes for those under the age of 19.
The proposed law will ban the sale of tobacco products to those born after January 2007, thus eradicating smoking completely for future generations.
“The new law will come into effect on November 1, 2025,” President Mohamed Muizzu’s office said in a statement issued after a cabinet meeting on April 13.
Penalties for violating the new law were not immediately announced, but officials said they were working on amendments to existing tobacco control laws to bring them in line with the new legislation.
On November 7, 2024, the Maldivian government tightened customs rules on tobacco imports.
Foreigners can bring in up to 19 pieces of cigarettes or tobacco sticks duty free, anything else will be confiscated by customs. It will be possible to collect the seized items when leaving the country by presenting a declaration slip at a customs post before checking in for a flight.
In addition, the island nation’s authorities have raised import tariffs on cigarettes, heated tobacco products and tobacco sticks by 50 per cent plus 8 Maldivian rupees per unit.
On November 15, 2024, a ban on imports of all vaping materials, including parts for assembling vapes, came into effect in the Maldives.
Other countries keep pace with the Maldives
A similar law proposed in the UK is still in the legislative process, and New Zealand, the first country to pass an intergenerational smoke-free law, repealed it in November 2023, less than a year after it was introduced.
In January 2023, Mexico completely banned cigarette smoking in all public places, including hotels and beaches. Previously, the smoking ban only applied to public transport, bars, workplaces and restaurants.
Ireland, Greece, Bulgaria, Malta, Spain, Hungary, Greece, Malta and Hungary have a complete ban on smoking in all enclosed public places and workplaces. Smoking on beaches is banned in Thailand.
Italy also wants to introduce tougher smoking restrictions and ban smoking on beaches, parks and restaurant terraces. The smoking ban will be extended to new products such as e-cigarettes and tobacco heating systems (IQOS and similar). Current Italian laws prohibit vaping in health centres, schools, inside public buildings and workplaces.
