A BAN has been placed on tobacco on a popular island to stop people of a certain age from ever buying it.
Called a ‘generational ban’ it means that anyone born after January 1, 2007 is prohibited from buying or using tobacco.
The destination that’s implemented the new rules is the Maldives, and it’s the only place in the world to have done so.
The measure makes it the only country with a generation-wide tobacco prohibition in an effort to promote a ‘tobacco-free generation’.
The ministry said: “Under the new provision, individuals born on or after 1 January 2007 are prohibited from purchasing, using, or being sold tobacco products within the Maldives.
“The ban applies to all forms of tobacco, and retailers are required to verify age prior to sale.”
The health ministry called the measure a “historic milestone in the nation’s efforts to protect public health”.
It added that the prohibition “reflects the government’s strong commitment to protecting young people from the harms of tobacco”.
The measure is not just for locals, it applies to any tourists visiting the islands.
So for Brits heading to the Maldives, you might find yourself being asked for ID in shops if buying tobacco.
Selling cigarettes to minors will carry a fine of 50,000 rufiyaa (£2,470) for the sellers.
Ahmed Afaal, vice chair of the archipelago’s tobacco control board, told the BBC that he didn’t expect bookings to reduce due to the ban.
He said: “People don’t come to the Maldives because they’re able to smoke.
“They come for the beaches, they come for the sea, they come for the sun, and they come for the fresh air”.
And then added that the Maldives was projecting more than two million tourists in the next year making it one of the world’s most popular destinations.
The banning of tobacco is a new rule, but the Maldives also banned the import, possession and use of vapes last year.
Electronic cigarettes and vapes are completely banned no matter what age you are – and you aren’t allowed to bring them into the country.
You won’t be denied entry if caught bringing one into the country, but it will be confiscated at the border and a customs officer will provide you with a receipt which you must present when you depart the country to have your items returned to you.
Anyone caught vaping in the Maldives will face a 5,000-rufiyaa fine (£247).
These measures apply to all of coral islands in the Maldives, of which there are over a thousand.
A similar generational ban proposed in the UK is still going through the legislative process.
All Other Countries with Full Bans on Vaping…
Asia
- India – Complete ban on production, sale, and import of e-cigarettes.
- Thailand – Strict ban on import, export, sale, and possession; violators can face fines or jail time.
- Singapore – Total ban on sale, use, and possession.
- Nepal – Ban on sale and distribution.
- Bhutan – Sale and distribution banned.
- North Korea – No official data, but likely prohibited.
Middle East
The Maldives isn’t the only place putting a ban on smoking; another country is set to introduce new strict bans at beaches, restaurants and bars.
For anyone interested in heading to the Maldives, Assistant Travel Editor Sophie Swietochowski took a holiday there for cheaper than a week at Center Parcs.