A historic measure has officially come into force in the Maldives: the ban on smoking and purchasing tobacco for those born after 1 January 2007. This is the first generational ban in the world, a decisive step towards what the government defines as “a generation free from tobaccoThe initiative, promoted by President Mohamed Muizzu and announced by the Ministry of Health, applies not only to residents but also to tourists, who flock to the country’s 1,191 coral islets every year.
What does the new law provide?
According to the new legislation, anyone born after 2007 will not be able to buy, use or sell tobacco products on any of the islands of the archipelago. Retailers will have to verify the age of customers, under penalty of heavy fines. But the government didn’t stop at cigarettes: the ban also includes electronic cigarettes and all vaping products, already banned nationwide.
The sanctions leave no room for levity: those who sell tobacco to minors risk a fine of 50,000 rufiyaa (around 3,200 dollars), while for the use of vaping devices the fine is 5,000 rufiyaa (320 dollars). A significant deterrent for those thinking of lighting a cigarette with an ocean view.
A model that looks to the future
The measure aims to protect public health and reduce the impact of smoking-related diseases, which globally remain one of the main causes of avoidable death. The Maldives’ decision comes as other countries, such as Britain, discuss similar laws, and after New Zealand repeals its generational anti-smoking rule in 2023.
With this choice, the Maldives is a candidate to become an international model of prevention. An island (or rather, a thousand) that is trying to reverse course, focusing on health, environment and collective responsibility.
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