The Maldives has taken a historic step in public health to adopt a nationwide smoke-free generation policy, manifesting the government’s commitment to protect the next generation from harms of smoking.
Smoking typically starts during adolescence. The tobacco industry deploys different tactics to get young people addicted to nicotine. The smoke-free generation policy protects the next generation and phases out smoking gradually by making it illegal for people born on or after a specific date to buy or use tobacco. The generation smoking ban in the Maldives came into effect on 1 November 2025, a year after the country enacted a total ban on electronic cigarettes (e-cigarettes). Use, purchase and sale of any forms of tobacco products are now illegal for people born on or after 1 January 2007. Despite tourism being the pillar industry in the Maldives, the smoke-free generation policy and the e-cigarette ban apply also to tourists. Ahmed Afaal, the vice chair of the Tobacco Control Board of the Maldives believed that both policies will not adversely affect the tourism industry, quoting no tourist cancellations but increased number of arrivals in the past year.
The generation ban often meets with huge resistance from the tobacco industry. New Zealand, for example, once passed the bill to ban the sale of tobacco to people born on or after 1 January 2009. The law was repealed after the new ruling party took office, where researchers revealed possible communications between the government and the tobacco industry. Yet more countries considered the smoke-free generation policy, such as Finland, Malaysia and the United Kingdom (UK). The UK is progressing in legislating the generation smoking ban. The Tobacco and Vapes Bill, which includes a ban on tobacco sales to people born on or after 1 January 2009, has been passed by the House of Commons, and is currently at the committee stage at the House of Lords.
The introduction of the smoke-free generation policy in the Maldives is a milestone in tobacco control, and represents a big step to tobacco endgame. Hong Kong has passed the Tobacco Control Legislation (Amendment) Ordinance 2025, which include various measures to reduce smoking and the related harms. Measures that have already been in place include increased penalties for illicit tobacco activities and a ban on provision of smoking products to people aged under 18 years, while measures such as extension of statutory no-smoking areas, plain packaging and flaovured tobacco ban will take effect in phases since 1 January 2026. Moving forward to a tobacco-free Hong Kong, COSH urges the Government to formulate a plan for tobacco endgame and consider the smoke-free generation policy.
Source: British Broadcasting Corporation