The Quebec Coalition for Tobacco Control (CQCT) denounces vaping shops that also offer exotic treats to attract young consumers.
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This is a “worrying” trend according to the CQCT. By replacing their displays of vaping products with displays of sweets and sugary drinks, these businesses become ordinary points of sale, just like convenience stores.
Shopkeepers therefore swap their privilege of displaying their electronic cigarettes in full view of their customers for that of welcoming minors into their shop.
In a letter addressed to the Minister of Health, Christian Dubé, the CQCT denounces that at least two chains of vaping shops in the Montreal region and others in the Quebec region can accept the presence of minors, while ‘they continue to advertise themselves as vaping businesses. Vaping products, even if they are no longer visible, are therefore associated with candy, a panoply of flavors and colors and a welcoming atmosphere for young people.
“We are in a context of treats, pleasure […] we come to bathe the vaping products in an atmosphere of celebration, of pleasure, in a buffet of flavors…”, lamented the spokesperson for the coalition, Flory Doucas.
These transformations would have started in 2021, following the judgment of the Quebec Court of Appeal, which rejected the vaping industry’s challenge to several measures of Quebec law, including the sale of other products for businesses wishing to spread their e-cigarettes and the sight of vaping products from outside businesses.
For the CTCQ, this is a way for the industry to seek out a younger clientele.
“In recent years, we have seen a marked, in fact a meteoric, increase in vaping among young people. We are faced with the observation that the industry tells itself to survive, we have to seek out consumers and those who are interested in our products are young people. »
The owner of Shak à Snack, in Quebec, candy and exotic drink shops where you can also find vaping products, assures that he respects the law.
“The rules are quite simple: we card everyone and we ask for two pieces of identification. It’s really apart from the store. There is really no outside that says ‘come and buy some vape with your sweets’,” indicated Jonathan Pérusse.
According to him, his shop does not encourage the consumption of vaping products any more than elsewhere. He even believes that electronic cigarettes are less visible in his business than in a convenience store.
The CQCT is asking the government to ban flavors to make vaping products less attractive to young people.
“The fact that we are trying to pair them with this environment of teenagers, young people, fun, that should be one more reason that pushes, I hope, Minister Dubé to go ahead with the ban flavors, which has been expected for more than two years in Quebec,” underlines Ms. Doucas.
The limitation of the nicotine level to 20 mg / ml for unlicensed electronic cigarettes as well as a maximum volume for bottles and cartridges of liquids are also part of the measures requested.
“We have 18% of our secondary school students who vape. A large majority of these young people vape on a regular, even daily basis. They have become extremely addicted to vaping products. »
For the CQCT, it is high time to act.
– With information fromEliane PiloteVAT News