Maldives starts public survey on rewarding tobacco-free islands
Government launches nationwide survey to assess public support for monetary incentives to end smoking at island level
MALE, Maldives (MNTV) — The Maldivian government is exploring an unusual strategy in its campaign against smoking: offering financial incentives to islands that collectively go tobacco-free.
Officials have launched a public survey to gauge national opinion on rewarding communities where every resident commits to quitting smoking. The proposal, backed by President Dr. Mohamed Muizzu, aims to encourage grassroots participation in curbing tobacco use and promoting public health across the archipelago.
The survey, conducted in both English and Dhivehi, invites residents to weigh in on issues such as the fairness of rewarding entire islands, the feasibility of monitoring compliance, and the challenges of enforcing smoke-free commitments. It also asks for views on more long-term policies, including generational smoking bans and penalties for violations on designated smoke-free islands.
Questions include:
- Should monetary rewards be given to islands that achieve total smoking cessation?
- How long must an island remain smoke-free to qualify?
- Should there be penalties for individuals who smoke on smoke-free islands?
- Would a generational ban on smoking be acceptable?
The initiative builds on a series of anti-smoking measures introduced by the government, including a nationwide ban on vaping that took effect in December 2024. Authorities have also raised import duties on cigarettes and prohibited the entry of tobacco products without proper health warnings.
The idea of rewarding entire communities for public health compliance reflects a growing push in the Maldives to tackle non-communicable diseases and reduce tobacco dependency through both policy and behavior change.
Officials hope that by engaging communities directly, the campaign will create a social shift that makes smoking less acceptable—and eventually obsolete.
While the proposal remains in its early stages, the government’s survey signals a broader attempt to redefine how public health policy is developed and implemented in the island nation—placing collective accountability and community-driven change at its core.
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