Malé (Maldives) (AFP) – The Maldives began implementing a smoking ban Saturday on anyone born after January 2007, becoming the only nation with a generational prohibition on tobacco, the Health Ministry said.
The move, initiated by President Mohamed Muizzu earlier this year – which came into effect on November 1 – will “protect public health and promote a tobacco-free generation”, the ministry said.
“Under the new provision, individuals born on or after January 1, 2007 are prohibited from purchasing, using, or being sold tobacco products within the Maldives,” it added.
“The ban applies to all forms of tobacco, and retailers are required to verify age prior to sale.”
The measure also applies to visitors to the nation of 1,191 tiny coral islets scattered some 800 kilometres (500 miles) across the equator and known for its luxury tourism.
The ministry said it also maintains a comprehensive ban on the import, sale, distribution, possession, and use of electronic cigarettes and vaping products, applicable to all individuals regardless of age.
Selling tobacco products to an underage person carries a penalty of 50,000 rufiyaa ($3,200), while using vape devices carries a fine of 5,000 rufiyaa ($320).
A similar generational ban proposed in Britain is still going through the legislative process, while New Zealand – the first country to enact such a law against smoking – repealed it in November 2023, less than a year after it was introduced.
axexrx@lemmy.world 2 days ago
Seems kind of crazy to make the ban ‘retroactive’ for people already alive.
The people born in 2007 are turning 18 and im assuming were never allowed to buy for themselves, but theres going to be a percentage that got them through parents and friends and whatnot, who are now, from their pov being denied a right that thwy were expecting/ looking forward to.
Seems like the kind of ban that would be much less contentious and easier to set in motion if theyd set the date as the current one (like 2025) or atleast to a much younger age (like say 2020) so that the people it would be affecting would grow up knowing the ban was in place and theyd never be able to purchase tobacco.
msage@programming.dev 2 days ago
Nothing of what you wrote made any sense.
If parents gave you smokes before you were 18, they don’t give a fuck about laws or your health.
Same for any friends.
If you started smoking this year… it won’t be as hard to stop.
And why should even people born in 2010 still have access to it in your mind?
I support global cigarette ban, specifically for filters and the litter smokes do. And rapid and continuing tax increase on any tobacco products until it’s priced out of existence.
Same for any disposable vapes.
Casino2306@lemmy.zip 2 days ago
Should I tax your soul out of existence?