Cabinet convenes for talks to decide on generational smoking ban

The cabinet will be holding discussions during its weekly meeting on Sunday to make a decision regarding introducing a generational smoking ban in the Maldives, according to President Dr. Mohamed Muizzu.

President Dr. Mohamed Muizzu had floated the idea of introducing a generational ban on smoking during an episode of his ‘Rayyithunnaa Eku’ podcast series on March 27. In another episode on April 2, he outlined three potential approaches for the ban:

• Prohibiting smoking for all individuals born on or after January 1, 2007
• Prohibiting smoking for all individuals born on or after January 1, 2004
• Prohibiting smoking for all individuals born on or after January 1, 2000

It targets the 18–25 age group.

The next day, he opened a poll regarding the three proposals via his official X account. The majority of people voted in favor of implementing a smoking ban for individuals born 2000 onwards.

In a view message ahead of Sunday’s cabinet meeting, President Muizzu highlighted on the dangers of smoking.

He said the 2022 Maldives Health Statistic Survey revealed tobacco as the leading cause of non-communicable diseases and disabilities in the Maldives.

He added that non-communicable diseases are estimated to account for 85 percent of all deaths in the Maldives.

President Muizzu also referred to the Global Youth Tobacco Survey, which showed that 45 percent of school children use tobacco or nicotine.

He stressed an urgent need for unified action to protect the Maldivian population from smoking-led diseases such as cancer.

“We will engage in discussions to ensure that out small community is safe from smoking-led diseases, and In Sha Allah, we will make a decision,” he said.

ދުންފަތުގެ އިސްތިއުމާލުކުރުމުން ދުރުކުރުމަށް، “ޖެނެރޭޝަނަލް ބޭން” ކަނޑައެޅުއްވުމާމެދު ގޮތެއް ނިންމެވުމަށް މިއަދުގެ ވަޒީރުންގެ މަޖިލީހުގެ ބައްދަލުވުމުގައި މަޝްވަރާކުރައްވާނެ pic.twitter.com/PGdsaWRMsA

— The President's Office (@presidencymv) April 13, 2025

President Muizzu launched a campaign against smoking last year, introducing a ban vapes and cigarettes, and doubling import duty and taxes on cigarettes.

The move doubled the price of the most common cigarette brands from MVR 110 to MVR 240 per pack.

Tobacco importers and distributors raised the prices of cigarettes following this change, with the price of common cigarette brands rising between MVR 240 to MVR 290 per pack, and MVR 2,240 per carton.

While businesses initially reported a drop in the sale of cigarettes, there has been an increase in the sale of rolling tobacco and cheaper lower quality cigarette brands, as well as a surge in the smuggling of cigarettes.