The decision was made to move forward with a proposal from the Ministry of Health during a Cabinet meeting whereafter the Cabinet instructed enforcement agencies to start revising current laws and regulations to facilitate the implementation of the tobacco ban.

The decision means, enforcement authorities will be given a six-month period to revise relevant regulations after the law is amended and ratified with the new legislation scheduled to come into effect on 1 November 2025, reports Ras Online.

The Ministry of Finance and Planning has also been tasked to work alongside the Ministry of Health to broaden the availability of tobacco cessation services across the nation.

President Muizzu had previously launched a public poll on his official X account to gather public input on the age threshold for the generational tobacco ban. This marked the first instance of a Maldivian president using social media to gather public opinion on a significant policy issue.



He has also made a public request to tobacco vendors, urging them to consider transitioning to alternative business ventures as the country moves toward phasing out tobacco use among future generations, according to Ras Online.

The generational tobacco ban is a key part of the government’s wider public health strategy, which focuses on decreasing smoking-related diseases and fostering healthier lifestyles in the Maldives.