Media in the Maldives have launched a nationwide public awareness campaign to prepare citizens for a sweeping amendment to the Tobacco Control Act, which will impose a permanent ban on tobacco use for younger generations. The amendment to the Tobacco Control Act, already ratified and considered among the most restrictive of its kind, is scheduled to take effect on 1 November 2025.
At the centre of the amendment is a provision that bars anyone born on or after 1 January 2007 from consuming tobacco products. The measure is intended to prevent future generations from ever taking up smoking, marking a decisive shift in the country’s public health policy.
To build momentum ahead of enforcement, local media have introduced the 'Generational Ban on Tobacco' Countdown Show. Organised by the Public Service Media (PSM) in partnership with media outlets across the country, the campaign will run until November. It is designed to inform the public about the new law and will culminate in special activities marking the start of the prohibition.
The amendment also reshapes how tobacco can be sold. Vendors will be prohibited from selling to anyone born on or after 1 January 2007, and sales will be confined to outlets that are both registered and licensed. The law closes potential loopholes by banning methods that conceal the identity of buyers, including online transactions and vending machines.
The scope of the legislation extends beyond traditional tobacco. Electronic cigarettes, vaping devices, and related accessories have already been outlawed, with both possession and use prohibited. Enforcement powers have been granted to the Maldives Police Service, which may confiscate such items from individuals.
The Maldives Customs Service will share this authority at the border, ensuring that imports are also intercepted. To reinforce the prohibition, the amendment bans the importation of specialised machinery used to manufacture tobacco products.