Kulhudhuffushi City has announced a 24-hour walkathon to celebrate the start of the “Generation Ban”, a historic law that prohibits tobacco use for anyone born in 2007 or later, as well as future generations.
The walkathon will begin at 4:00 PM on Friday, October 31, and continue until 4:30 PM on Saturday, November 1, starting near the main gate of Kulhudhuffushi Zone Stadium.
The event, jointly organized by local institutions, clubs, and associations, will feature various community-focused activities such as a cessation clinic, Bodu Beru performances, and a photo booth to raise awareness about tobacco-free living.
With the recent amendment to the Tobacco Control Act introduced in May 2025, the sale of tobacco products to individuals born in or after 2007 is now prohibited, and the minimum legal age to sell tobacco has been raised from 18 to 21 years.
In addition, the importation of vapes and e-cigarettes into the Maldives will be banned from November 15, as part of efforts to build a healthier generation.
According to Maldives Customs, over one billion Rufiyaa is spent annually to import approximately 500 million cigarettes, while the STEPS survey shows that one in four Maldivians uses tobacco. The 2019 Global Youth Tobacco Survey also revealed that around 45 percent of school-aged children use some form of tobacco product.
To mark the national launch of the Generation Ban, a 24-hour run will also take place in Malé at the Ekuveni Track, starting at 4:00 PM next Friday and ending at 4:00 PM on Saturday, the day the law comes into effect. The Malé event will include a cessation clinic, advocacy stalls, live music, and a photo booth.
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