The Coalition of Asia Pacific Tobacco Harm Reduction Advocates (CAPHRA) has issued a measured response to the Maldives’ proposed generational smoking ban, recognising its public health intent but warning that prohibition without harm reduction will likely repeat the mistakes of past tobacco control efforts.
The bill, submitted to Parliament on 29 April 2025, would prohibit tobacco sales to anyone born on or after 1 January 2007, making it the first generational smoking ban in the Asia-Pacific region. While CAPHRA acknowledges the ambition behind the move, the organisation cautions that such prohibition, without offering safer alternatives, risks driving tobacco use underground and failing to reduce smoking rates.
Nancy Loucas, Executive Coordinator of CAPHRA, said: “The Maldives’ proposal shows a willingness to try new approaches, but history tells us prohibition alone does not work. When safer alternatives like vaping are banned, as in the Maldives since 2024, smokers are left with few options and illicit markets thrive. We have seen similar outcomes in Australia and Denmark, where bans failed to reduce harm and instead fuelled black markets.”
CAPHRA points to New Zealand’s abandoned generational ban and Malaysia’s stalled proposals as evidence that such policies often create more problems than they solve. The Maldives’ own data shows a 38% increase in illicit tobacco trade since recent bans and tax hikes, while youth smoking remains high. Public support for the ban is also questionable, with a government poll indicating many Maldivians preferred a different age threshold.
Loucas added: “If the Maldives is serious about reducing smoking, it must look beyond age-based bans. Evidence from the UK and New Zealand demonstrates that regulated access to safer nicotine products, combined with education and support, delivers real progress. Prohibition without harm reduction simply pushes people toward unregulated and unsafe options.”
CAPHRA urges the Maldivian government to engage with consumer advocates and public health experts to develop a more balanced approach. “We are ready to support reforms that are based on evidence, not ideology. The goal should be to protect youth and help adults quit smoking, not to repeat the failures of the past,” Loucas concluded.
CONTACT:
Nancy Loucas,
Executive Coordinator CAPHRA (Coalition of Asia Pacific Tobacco Harm Reduction Advocates)
Mobile: +64272348643
Email: [email protected]
Web: https://caphraorg.net/
