2023-10-06 17:12:01
As Quebec prepares to ban the sale of vaping products with flavors, the Quebec Coalition for Tobacco Control fears that we will repeat the mistakes of Nova Scotia, which recorded an increase in consumption among young people following the removal of aromas.
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Since the implementation of such a law in 2020 in Nova Scotia, the use of a vape among young people aged 15 to 24 who have already vaped has increased from 28.6% to 49.6% in 2022.
According to the most recent data from Statistics Canada taken from the Canadian Tobacco and Nicotine Survey, nearly 50% of 15 to 24 year olds confirm having tried vaping at least once.
For her part, the spokesperson for the Quebec Coalition for Tobacco Control, Flory Doucas, believes that the similar data observed in New Brunswick, where the sale of flavored vaping products has also been banned since 2021, results from a laxity in law enforcement.
“We had very clear demonstration that the industry did not comply and that it ignored the regulations. The authorities still carry out searches frequently,” explains Flory Doucas.
Remember that the Legault government announced in August that the sale of vaping products containing a flavor or aroma other than tobacco will be prohibited as of October 31.
“In Quebec, everything will depend on how the law is applied and whether merchants comply with it. We will have to be strict,” adds the spokesperson.
No more net
For its part, the industry fears a resurgence of the black market in order to get its hands on vaping products containing flavors.
“Before the advent of vaping, people made their own e-liquid in their garage. It’s easy, it takes four ingredients that are easily found online. We’re just going to come back to that and there are some who are happy because they’re going to make a lot of money,” says the spokesperson for the Coalition for the Rights of Vapers of Quebec, Valérie Gallant.
“The difference is that it can be unsanitary, done by anyone, with anything and we will never be able to know exactly what is in the bottle so it might be extremely dangerous,” adds -she.
This might be more harmful for young people, considering that they vape four times more than the adult population of Quebec according to the Quebec survey on tobacco and vaping products carried out in 2020.
This study by the National Institute of Public Health of Quebec reveals that 18% of 15-17 year olds vape. The proportion of vapers among 18-24 year olds is also high, at 15%.
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