Survey to begin for study on giving monetary reward to tobacco-free islands

A survey is set to be conducted concerning a study that would give monetary rewards to tobacco-free islands.

President Dr. Mohamed Muizzu requested relevant agencies to conduct a study to determine which islands have no smokers whatsoever, in line with the current governments steps against smoking.

A survey concerning the study was started by the Health Protection Agency (HPA) yesterday.

The purpose of HPA's survey, which will both be in English and Dhivehi, is to gauge public opinion on what they think about monetarily rewarding islands where all residents stop smoking permanently.

The survey will identify the public's perceptions on community awareness and the challenges encountered in implementing it, as said by HPA.

- How fair is it that islands that come together to completely stop smoking receive a monetary reward?

- The worries an individual would have concerning a monetary reward being given if an island as a whole stops smoking completely.

- How many days should pass for an island to be designated completely smoker free?

- The individual's thoughts on a generational ban on smoking.

- The individual's thoughts on people being punished for smoking on an island that has been designated smoker free.

In order to combat smoking as a whole, the government implemented a ban on using and selling vapes from 15th December 2024 onwards. Cigarettes have also seen an increase on its import duty pricing, with cigarettes being blocked from entry if the packaging doesn't have the relevant warnings on them.