Maldives Bans Cigarette Sales to Younger Generations in Landmark Health Law

Maldives has enacted a groundbreaking public health law prohibiting the sale of cigarettes to individuals born after January 1, 2007. This move makes the Indian Ocean archipelago the first nation globally to implement a full nationwide generational smoking ban.

The Health Ministry announced the ban, which applies to all tobacco retail outlets and requires verification of customers' age at the point of sale. The Vice Chair of the nation's Tobacco Control Board, Ahm Afaal, described the ban on vaping products as a positive step towards creating a tobacco-free citizenry.

The law aims to protect young people from the harms of tobacco and is seen as a bold move in public health policy.