Overview
- From November 1, anyone born on or after January 1, 2007 is prohibited from buying, using, or selling tobacco in the Maldives.
- The measure covers all tobacco products, and authorities maintain a blanket prohibition on e‑cigarettes that includes import, sale, possession, and use.
- The rules apply to visitors, making tourists subject to the same restrictions as residents.
- Retailers must verify buyers’ ages, with fines of 50,000 MVR for illegal tobacco sales and 5,000 MVR for e‑cigarette use.
- The Maldives is currently alone in enforcing a generational ban; New Zealand repealed a similar policy in 2023 and the UK is pursuing comparable legislation.