For years, authorities have grappled with what to do about e-cigarettes, the biggest trend among youth since anxiety.
Now, the law is starting to come down on vaping.
Starting August 7, it will be illegal to display vaping ads where youth can see them. The ban applies to all retail locations and online stores that sell e-cigarettes. Health Canada introduced the law last month.
Verbatim, it reads: A vaping product or a vaping product-related brand element must not be promoted by means of advertising done in a manner that allows the advertising to be seen or heard by young persons.
Bit of wiggle room there. Does that mean vaping products are restricted to adults-only stores? Probably not, but you can expect them to be far away from the candy section.
In addition to the ads ban, the new regulations seek to “enhance public awareness about the health hazards or health effects of using vaping products by requiring that advertising convey a health warning that would enable adults to make an informed choice regarding the use of these products.”
According to the Canadian Student Tobacco, Alcohol and Drugs Survey, 13 per cent of those in grades 10–12 vape every day. Only 1 per cent smoke cigarettes. Last school year, overall, 29 per cent of those in grades grades 10–12 vape. That’s up from 8.9 per cent in 2014-2015. Even the kids are into it: last school year, 11.1 per cent of 7th to 9th graders vaped, an 8 per cent increase from 2014-2015.
Over the next four years, Health Canada will invest $14 million to address tobacco use and youth vaping.