In a historic public-health move, the Maldives has become the first nation in the world to introduce a generational smoking ban. Under the amended Tobacco Control Act, anyone born on or after 1 January 2007 is prohibited from purchasing, using or being sold any form of tobacco within the country.

The ban extends keenly into tourism as well: it applies not merely to residents but to all visitors in the archipelago nation, which comprises 1,191 coral islands.

The Maldives already had among the highest smoking rates in the Indian Ocean region — about 25.5 % of its population aged 15-69 were tobacco users in 2024, with male usage at 41.7 %.

Authorities say the aim is to protect younger generations and align with the World Health Organization Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (WHO FCTC). Enforcement includes mandatory age verification at point-of-sale and heavy fines for retailers who violate the rules.

While other countries such as United Kingdom and New Zealand have discussed similar “tobacco-free generation” laws, the Maldives is the first to enact one.