Maldives becomes world’s first to ban smoking for a generation

The Maldives has taken a historic step by banning tobacco use, sale, and purchase for anyone born on or after 1 January 2007, meaning everyone aged 18 or younger. The move comes against the backdrop of a global health crisis, smoking kills over 8 million people annually, equivalent to around 666,000 deaths each month or nearly 21,900 every single day. With this ban, the Maldives has become the first country in the world to actually enforce a nationwide generational tobacco prohibition, while other countries like New Zealand and the United Kingdom have only proposed or debated similar laws. New Zealand’s version was repealed before implementation, and the UK’s bill is still awaiting final approval, making the Maldives the only nation where such a ban is actively in force.

The new law applies equally to citizens, residents, and tourists, making it one of the most comprehensive anti-tobacco measures globally. Retailers are legally obligated to verify the age of every buyer before selling any tobacco product, and failure to do so carries strict penalties. Under the Maldives’ Tobacco Control Act, shopkeepers who sell tobacco to those in the banned generation face heavy fines, seizure of stock, and even suspension or cancellation of business licences for repeat offences. Officials have indicated that these penalties may be strengthened further to ensure total compliance.

The Maldives had already outlawed e-cigarettes and vaping devices last year, banning their import, sale, and use nationwide. Despite early concerns that such restrictions might hurt tourism, data show the opposite: visitor arrivals have continued to rise, with more than two million tourists expected next year. As Ahmed Afaal, vice chair of the Maldives Tobacco Control Board, noted, “People don’t come to the Maldives to smoke; they come for the beaches, the sea, the sun, and the fresh air.”

Globally, the World Health Organization (WHO) estimates that tobacco causes between 7 and 8 million deaths each year, including 1.6 million non-smokers exposed to second-hand smoke. These figures make tobacco use one of humanity’s deadliest yet most preventable habits. The Maldives’ decision, therefore, stands out as a bold public health victory - one that puts lives above profits and short-term business interests.

In contrast, India remains the second-largest consumer of tobacco in the world, after China, with more than 26 crore (260 million) users. The country loses around 1.35 million lives every year to tobacco-related diseases, approximately 112,500 deaths each month or 3,700 every day. India has implemented strong laws under the Cigarettes and Other Tobacco Products Act (COTPA), including bans on smoking in public spaces, restrictions on advertising, and 85% graphic warnings on cigarette packs. The sale of tobacco near schools is prohibited, and e-cigarettes have been banned nationwide since 2019.

Some states have gone further: Karnataka has raised the legal smoking age from 18 to 21 and banned hookah bars, while others have prohibited gutka, khaini, and other smokeless tobacco products. Still, no Indian state has implemented a generation-based ban similar to the Maldives.

A full generational ban in India would face challenges, given the size of its tobacco industry and the millions of livelihoods tied to it. Yet, the Maldives has demonstrated that protecting people’s health need not conflict with economic growth or tourism. It has shown that decisive, health-first leadership can change social norms and save lives.

The Maldives has sent a clear and courageous message to the world: health must come before profit. If India embraces even part of this vision, it could lead South Asia into a new era of tobacco control, one where future generations can breathe cleaner air and live free from the deadly grip of nicotine.