President seeks public opinion on generational smoking ban

President Dr Mohamed Muizzu has published polls across his official social media accounts seeking public opinion on determining the cut off age for generational smoking bans to be implemented in Maldives.

In his announcement on X revealing that Maldives, like several other countries, plans to implement a generational ban on smoking in a bid to stop the country's youth from smoking, President Muizzu included a poll to seek public opinion on the matter.

The options are imposing the ban on those born on or after the year 2000, or the year 2004, or the year 2007. He mentioned the same options on his podcast 'Rayyithunnaa Eku' [With Citizens].

This social media poll also marks the first time a sitting president has opened up polls via social media.

President's proposals for a generation ban

- Prohibition of cigarettes and tobacco for all children born and future children to be born from January 1, 2007 onwards

- Prohibition of cigarettes and tobacco for all children born and future children to be born from 2004 onwards

- Prohibition of cigarettes and tobacco for all children born and future children to be born from 2000 onwards

If implemented, the ban's cut off age would be anywhere from 18 to 25.

The President said this ban would prohibit those born on or after the cut off date from ever smoking; even after they are older than 25.

He also said that these steps are being taken for the safety of future generations, and requested the public's support and cooperation in implementing it.

Leading up to this, the import of vape has was banned on December 15 last year. Those who vape in the country are now fined by MVR 5,000 by law while free distribution of vapes come with a fine of MVR 10,000. Sale of vapes comes with double the fine at MVR 20,000.

The penalty escalates to MVR 50,000 if the vape was sold to an individual younger than 21. Around this time, Maldives also changed laws increasing duties collected from smoking and tobacco products as well as increasing the minimum age limit of smoking to 21.