President to Introduce Generational Tobacco Ban on People Born After 2007
A number of cigarattes on a table | Photo: Envato
President Dr Mohamed Muizzu decided yesterday to introduce a generational tobacco ban, which will prohibit the sale and use of tobacco products for individuals born on or after 2007.
This decision was made yesterday during the cabinet meeting, after discussing the proposal submitted by the Ministry of Health. According to the President’s Office, enforcement agencies have been instructed to begin amending relevant laws and regulations to facilitate the introduction of the ban and ratification of the law.
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The new legislation will come into force on 1 November 2025.
The cabinet also instructed the Ministry of Finance and Planning to collaborate with the Ministry of Health to improve access to tobacco cessation services nationwide.
Earlier, the President launched a special poll on his official X account to gather public opinion on the appropriate age for enforcing the generational tobacco ban. This marked the first instance of a sitting Maldivian President using a social media platform to crowdsource public input on a major policy initiative. The President also publicly urged tobacco vendors to stop selling tobacco products and explore alternative business ventures.
