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A ban on the sale of flavoured vaping products in 2023 has seen a large proportion of Quebec’s vapers turn back to cigarettes.
A survey conducted on behalf of the Coalition of the Rights of Quebecers who Vape (CDVQ), has shown that 36% of vapers have returned to smoking cigarettes because of the Quebec vape flavour ban last year.
According to the Léger firm survey, 22 per cent returned to cigarettes while 14 per cent started smoking.
Valérie Gallant, a representative of the CDVQ, commented: “You have no idea how sad this makes me…for our vapers, unable to find flavours, have simply started smoking again.”
The survey says that 76% of vapers reported that they began using e-cigarettes to help them quit smoking. 68% of which indicated that the variety of flavours available played a significant role in their decision to switch.
Flavoured vaping products were banned in Quebec on October 31st 2023, as a measure taken by the government to prevent consumption among high school students, which was on the rise.
However, vapes that have no flavour or aroma are still permitted, as are tobacco flavoured vape products.
It’s also forbidden to sell any vapes in the “form of a toy, a piece of jewellery, a food, an animal or a real or fictional person, or any other form, appearance or function that might be attractive to minors.”
According to the Quebec survey on tobacco, alcohol, drugs and gambling among secondary school students, 4% of young people reported having vaped in the last 30 days in 2013. This proportion rose to 21% in 2019.
Health Minister Christian Dubé said: “These new regulations concerning vaping products are aimed in particular at protecting young people from the harmful and worrying effects of vaping.
“This is our responsibility, and we will ensure that these substances become less attractive for everyone.”
The regulations set a maximum nicotine concentration of 20 mg/ml for all vaping products. It also limited the capacity of tanks and capsules to 2 ml and restricted the maximum volume of refill containers for vaping liquids to 30 ml.
Additionally, the packaging of vaping products must clearly display the concentration of nicotine and the volume of the liquid. There also must be a statement indicating whether the vape’s flavour is tobacco, or if it is unflavoured or has no aroma.
David Raynaud, of the Canadian Cancer Society (CCS), expressed: “We want to prevent a new generation from becoming addicted to nicotine through electronic cigarettes.”
The CCS called the regulations, “a major step forward in protecting the health of young people.”
However, the Canadian Vaping Association disagreed wholeheartedly with the Quebec vape flavour ban and the new regulations, warning of “catastrophic consequences”.
Daniel Marien, the association’s director, lamented: “Even if flavours are abolished, young Quebecers will continue to cheat the system by obtaining flavoured vaporizers illegally on the black market or online with prepaid cards.”
The new CDVQ survey, which was conducted online from March 26 to April 7 among 1,001 people aged 16 and over, shows that 30% of young people aged 16 to 24 still say they vape, despite the Quebec vape flavour ban for vaping products.
Valérie Gallant stated: “The fact that those who continue to vape buy their products on the black market does nothing to resolve the situation.
“As I have mentioned on several occasions, Minister Dubé must reverse his decision, take a step back and come back with solutions to regulate vaping while allowing flavours.”
The government's regulations must strike a finer line between discouraging vaping amongst youths and ensuring that vapers don’t go back to cigarettes.
Although the government has cited that 90% of youth vapers use flavoured vaping products, it is evident from the CDVQ survey that vape flavours are also heavily valued by e-cigarette users who made the switch from smoking.
It is also clear that young vapers have seemingly not been deterred from vaping, and are likely accessing illegal products. Subtle, more thought out regulations are likely needed, rather than outright bans, otherwise young people will continue to vape while smoking rates may rise amongst adult Quebecers.
A storyteller till the end, Charlie is a true Londoner with style and writing flair. Carrying a journalism degree under his belt with experience writing for a variety of businesses, Charlie makes sure to hold his words to a high standard everywhere he goes. Although not an out and out vaper himself, Charlie's passion lies in helping smokers quit and move into the electronic age. Other than his journalistic work, Charlie can be found on tennis courts or in boxing gyms around the capital.