Malé: The law, which came into effect on November 1, makes the island nation the only country in the world currently enforcing an age-based tobacco prohibition.

According to the Maldives Ministry of Health, the decision aims to protect public health and promote a new generation free from the harms of smoking. Under the new regulation, individuals born on or after January 1, 2007, are prohibited from buying, using, or selling tobacco products anywhere in the Maldives.

The rule extends even to visitors arriving in the country, an archipelago of 1,191 small coral islands spread around 800 kilometers from the equator, known globally as a popular tourist destination.

The Ministry also reaffirmed a complete ban on the import, sale, distribution, possession, and use of electronic cigarettes and related products, applying to all individuals regardless of age.

Violators will face strict penalties: anyone selling tobacco products to minors will be fined $3,200, while those caught using electronic smoking devices will face a $320 fine.

While similar proposals are still under discussion in countries like Britain, New Zealand, once the first nation to introduce a generational smoking ban, repealed its law in November 2023, less than a year after its implementation.