The Maldives enacts a generational smoking ban

The Maldives enacted a generational smoking ban, prohibiting those born after January 1, 2007, from buying or using tobacco. The law applies to all tobacco products, with retailers responsible for age verification. This makes the Maldives the first nation globally to implement such a nationwide generational tobacco restriction. The country already bans vapes and e-cigarettes for all ages. Globally, tobacco causes millions of deaths annually, and the Maldives has a significant smoking rate, particularly among youth.