Flavoured Tobacco and Vaping Products
The allure of flavoured vaping products among youth is undeniable.
These products offer a wide array of enticing flavours, from fruity blends to sweet confections, which often serve as the initial draw for experimentation. Recent surveys have revealed the prevalence of flavour preferences among youth, with 63% of grade 7-12 students who vape reporting fruit-flavoured vapes as their top choice.
Existing flavour bans & proposed recommendations
Provincial
Manitoba lags behind the majority of provinces and territories that have taken proactive measures to curb the sale of flavoured vape products. Six provinces have enacted legislation or regulations banning the sale of e-cigarette liquids other than tobacco flavour, with additional restrictions in British Columbia, Ontario, and Saskatchewan.
Federal
The government has proposed regulations restricting flavourings and additives in vaping liquids. However, these regulations, which would still permit mint and menthol flavours, are under review.
International
Several countries have taken decisive action to address the issue. As of January 2024, six countries have implemented national-level bans on flavours other than tobacco.
Learning from past mistakes
A cautionary tale lies in Health Canada's past decision-making regarding menthol flavours.
Despite evidence revealing the allure of menthol to youth, Health Canada exempted menthol from a ban on flavouring in cigarettes in 2009. This oversight serves as a stark reminder of the importance of avoiding similar exemptions in regulations concerning vaping flavours.
What we’re doing
Policy recommendations
Along with members of our Alliance, we’ve recommended the prohibition of sales of flavored vaping products, except for tobacco-flavoured products. The full recommendation can be viewed here.