The Maldives has become the first country in the world to implement a lifetime smoking ban for an entire generation. Under a new law that took effect on November 1, anyone born after January 2007 will be prohibited from smoking or purchasing tobacco products — not just while underage, but for life.
That means young Maldivians born after the cutoff date will never be allowed to smoke, even at 18, 30, or 80 years old. Those already of legal age can continue to smoke without restriction.
The Indian Ocean island nation’s Ministry of Health said the initiative, launched by President Mohamed Muizzu earlier this year, aims “to protect public health and cultivate a tobacco-free generation.” Retailers are now required to verify customers’ ages before selling any tobacco products, and the ban applies to all forms of tobacco.
“The law’s goal is to stop the next generation from starting to smoke altogether,” the ministry said in its statement.
‘Preventing youth smoking is a top priority’
Dr. Einat Fireman Klein, a pulmonologist at Carmel Medical Center in Haifa, welcomed the initiative:
“Preventing young people from starting to smoke is of the highest importance if we want to avoid creating another generation of smokers,” she said.
“Legislation is crucial, but laws alone can’t replace education, public awareness, and strict enforcement against tobacco companies and distributors — including heavy fines for selling tobacco to minors.”
Fireman Klein added that most smokers begin at a young age, and the rise of e-cigarettes has made the habit more accessible than ever. “If you walk into a high school in Israel today, you’ll find vaping is extremely common — and many students start as early as middle school,” she warned.
A global trend: tighter tobacco laws worldwide
The Maldivian law comes amid a global wave of anti-smoking measures.
France will ban smoking at beaches, parks, and bus stops starting July 2025, with fines of €135 for violations.
Milan, Italy will enforce one of Europe’s strictest anti-smoking laws in early 2025, prohibiting smoking in all public spaces, including streets, to reduce air pollution and secondhand smoke.
Belgium this year became the first EU country to ban the sale of disposable e-cigarettes entirely, citing both health and environmental concerns.
In the Netherlands, a sharp tobacco tax hike backfired, pushing smokers to buy cigarettes in neighboring countries — prompting the EU to consider harmonizing tobacco taxes.
These moves mark a global shift from policies of harm reduction to outright exclusion of tobacco from public life.
Heavy penalties and tourist implications
The Maldives — a luxury tourist destination made up of 1,191 coral islands spread over 800 kilometers across the equator — has extended its ban to all visitors. The country already prohibits the import, sale, possession, and use of e-cigarettes and vaping devices, regardless of age.
Violations carry stiff penalties: selling tobacco products to minors can result in a fine of 50,000 Maldivian rufiyaa (about $3,200 or NIS 10,000), while using an e-cigarette can incur a fine of 5,000 rufiyaa ($320).
The Maldives is not the first nation to attempt a generational smoking ban. New Zealand passed a similar law in 2022 but repealed it less than a year later, in November 2023. The United Kingdom is currently advancing comparable legislation, but as of now, the Maldives stands alone as the only country where such a lifetime ban is in force.
Dr. Fireman Klein summarized the global significance of the move: “It’s an ambitious and necessary step,” she said. “Stopping smoking before it starts is the most effective way to protect future generations — and the Maldives just showed the world it’s possible.”