Malaysia plans to ban tobacco sales to people born after 2005, but faces widespread opposition

According to a survey conducted by an vaping industry group, nearly all consumers oppose Malaysia’s proposed “generational smoking ban.” The ban would prohibit Malaysians born after 2005 from purchasing tobacco products.

The survey shows that if the ban takes effect, 70% of consumers may turn to illegal tobacco and vaping products. This would pose a major public health risk, as illegal products are often unsafe and lack quality control.

A shift toward illegal products could also seriously affect Malaysia’s tobacco and vaping industries, impacting employment and tax revenue. The vaping industry group has urged Malaysian authorities to reconsider the proposed ban, noting that it could lead to unintended negative consequences for both public health and the economy.