Health health / social policy Maldives Impact 8.0/10 10 min read

Guarding a Smoke-Free Generation: President Muizzu’s Bold Tobacco Ban Leads the Way

President Dr. Mohamed Muizzu announced a 'Generation Ban' on tobacco sales, barring today's youth from ever buying cigarettes. The policy, unveiled on his 'Rayyithunnaa Eku' podcast, aims to create a tobacco-free generation by prohibiting sales to those born after a cutoff year. This follows other measures: a December 2024 ban on vapes, doubled import duties on cigarettes (raising pack prices from MVR 110 to MVR 240), expanded quit services (clinics and quitline 1767), and plans to phase out tobacco imports. Muizzu emphasized prevention over treatment, stating the policy would 'save their entire lives' from nicotine addiction.

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Apr 4, 2025

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President Dr. Mohamed Muizzu announced a 'Generation Ban' on tobacco sales, barring today's youth from ever buying cigarettes. The policy, unveiled on his 'Rayyithunnaa Eku' podcast, aims to create a tobacco-free generation by prohibiting sales to those born after a cutoff year. This follows other measures: a December 2024 ban on vapes, doubled import duties on cigarettes (raising pack prices from MVR 110 to MVR 240), expanded quit services (clinics and quitline 1767), and plans to phase out tobacco imports. Muizzu emphasized prevention over treatment, stating the policy would 'save their entire lives' from nicotine addiction.

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