The Maldives has banned young people born on or after 1 January 2007 from smoking tobacco, becoming the only country in the world to enforce a nationwide generational tobacco prohibition. The archipelago's health ministry announced on Saturday that it would be illegal for younger generations to use, buy or sell tobacco within the country. The ban "reflects the government's strong commitment to protecting young people from the harms of tobacco", the ministry said.
The Maldives began implementing a smoking ban on anyone born after January 2007, becoming the only country with a generational prohibition on tobacco, according to its health ministry. The move, which was initiated by the president, Mohamed Muizzu, earlier this year and came into effect on 1 November, will protect public health and promote a tobacco-free generation, the ministry said.