Under the new regulations, specialty adult-only vape shops, with an age verification system set in place will still be allowed to sell all the flavoured products available on the market, as well as products containing a higher nicotine content. While regular convenience and gas stations’ shops will no longer be able to sell any flavours aside from tobacco and menthol, and at a nicotine limit of 20 milligrams a milliliter.
The measure, which is in line with a proposal by the government of the British Columbia, will be presented by Health Minister Christine Elliott to provincial cabinet members, in the coming days. Many harm reduction experts will likely agree that such a measure strikes the right balance of protecting the province’s teens, whilst keeping the full range of products available for adults smokers wishing to quit.
Meanwhile, as of last month, Ontario has also banned the promotion of vaping products in convenience stores and gas stations. While two other provinces, Nova Scotia and PEI, are also setting in place their own versions of flavour bans.
Nova Scotia flavour ban also applies to vape-shops
As of the 1st of April, no retailer in Nova Scotia, including speciality adult-only vape shops, will be allowed to sell any flavoured products, other than bland and tobacco flavours. “This is about reducing the rates,” said the province’s Health Minister Randy Delorey. “What we’ve seen in the last couple of years since e-cigarettes have become widely available in Canada and indeed throughout much of North America is a rapidly growing rate, in particular youth vaping.”
Findings from a survey conducted by non-profit group Smoke Free Nova Scotia, had indicated that 95% of youth who vape, prefer flavoured vaping products, and over 48% said they would quit vaping if flavours were banned. Sadly, an important detail is being left out, would formerly smoking teens quit vaping to go back to smoking cigarettes instead?
PEI in the midst of consultations
On the other hand, PEI is still in the midst of consultations with regards to a flavour ban but Health Minister James Aylward, has made it clear that such a measure is certainly on the cards. “We did it with flavoured tobacco, we’re going to do it with flavoured vaping as well,” he said.
Read Further: The Globe and the Mail
CDC Study: Curiosity (Not Flavours) is the Main Instigator of Teen Vaping
