Smoking in Canada
In Canada, smoking is allowed and tobacco products are regulated. Under these regulations, cigarettes can be sold, purchased online, used, and bought from vending machines. The importation of cigarettes for trade is permitted with a trade license. Health warnings are required on cigarette packaging, the minimum legal age for sales is 18 years, and there are legal restrictions on smoking in public places. Cigarettes are subject to an excise tax value of 54.47% and a total taxation rate of 63.34%. Available data show that smoking remains a significant public health issue in Canada. In 2024, there were approximately 3.5 million current smokers aged 15 years and older. This shows that the adult current smoking prevalence was 10.6% in 2024, with 13.1% among males and 8.1% among females. In comparison, this prevalence was 11.4% in 2022. For reference, the number of daily smokers was approximately 3.5 million in 2017 which shows that the adult daily tobacco smoking prevalence was 11.6%, with 19.1% among males and 13.4% among females. In 2021, smoking led to 34,171 deaths in Canada, including 20,700 deaths among males and 13,471 among females. This indicates that smoking accounted for 11% of all deaths in 2021 in the country, including 12.8% of male deaths and 9.04% of female deaths.
Read articles from Canada
March 13, 2024 by regulatorwatch.com
It’s Not Ok | Flavour Bans Eschew Good Science | RegWatch
If the goal is to deny people their rights and to put lives in danger, then flavour bans would be a brilliant strategy. That’s the learned opinion of David Sweanor, a renowned tobacco control policy expert and adjunct professor in the faculty of law at the University of Ottawa. With a growing number of jurisdictions implementing bans on flavours in nicotine vapour products, Health Canada is joining the fray by reviving its 2021 proposed flavour restrictions and moving quickly to implement a nationwide ban. In this episode of RegWatch, learn about Canada’s unaccountable and evangelical health non-profits applying pressure on behalf of the ban.
March 06, 2024 by financialpost.com
Opinion: Banning flavoured vapes would promote harm, not reduce it
Health Canada’s 15-person delegation is now back from the World Health Organization’s recent jamboree on tobacco control, held in Panama, a world tobacco smuggling nexus. The WHO has a vaping problem. Obsessive about tobacco but vehemently opposed to harm reduction, it effectively denies overwhelming scientific evidence that e-cigarettes are the most effective cigarette-quitting device ever invented. Energized and ready, the Health Canada team is turning its attention to discouraging e-cigarettes in this country.
February 28, 2024 by financialpost.com
Opinion: Nicotine pouches help smokers quit. Don't ban them
A major problem with pouches, the Society explains, is that they are not regulated like tobacco products. In particular, they come in different flavours, which is not legal for tobacco. But why are flavours a problem? Pouches aren’t a tobacco product. They contain literally zero tobacco. Why should they be regulated as if they were tobacco? Flavoured smoking cessation products have existed in Canada for some time. Nicorette, which comes in gums, lozenges, and sprays, offers a variety of flavours, including mint, fresh fruit, cool berry and mild spearmint.
February 27, 2024 by citynews.ca
Calgary group calls for tighter restrictions on e-cigarettes and nicotine pouches
A group of University of Calgary students are calling for the Alberta and Federal government to tightly regulate vaping and nicotine pouches.
February 27, 2024 by citynews.ca
Calgary group calls for tighter restrictions on e-cigarettes and nicotine pouches
A group of University of Calgary students are calling for the Alberta and Federal government to tightly regulate vaping and nicotine pouches.
February 27, 2024 by ctvnews.ca
Stricter e-cigarette and nicotine pouch regulations required for Canadian youth, group says
A health advocacy group, SAAVE, is urging for stricter regulations on vaping and e-cigarettes for youth in Calgary. They call for bans on flavored products, single-use devices, and nicotine pouches, with packaging restrictions. The aim is to prevent nicotine addiction and health issues in children. Dr. Campbell emphasizes the dangers of marketing addictive substances to youth. Dr. Yaholnitsky notes an increase in gum problems and tooth decay due to vaping. SAAVE member Kahlon expresses concern over the appeal of vaping to students. They are hosting an event to raise awareness and advocate for immediate government action to protect youth from vaping and nicotine addiction.
February 21, 2024 by theglobeandmail.com
Opinion: We’ve won the war on smoking – except that we haven’t
It was one of the most successful public health campaigns in history: starting in the 1960s, Canadian governments began educating the public about the link between cancer and smoking, and then creating regulations on the marketing and branding of cigarettes. This effort shifted society, and smoking prevalence in Canada fell from 50 per cent in 1965 to under 11 per cent in 2021. Offices, restaurants, bars and even many parks are now smoke-free – all of which would have been unthinkable a few decades ago. The prevention campaigns that exist are working, and most people aren’t smokers.
February 20, 2024 by tobaccoreporter.com
Northern Exposure
The nicotine market in North America is evolving, with vape and oral sales rising while traditional combustibles still dominate. Major tobacco companies are shifting toward next-gen products, impacting combustible sales. The U.S. nicotine market is forecasted to reach $107.5 billion by 2024, with e-cigarettes projected to generate $8.8 billion. Nicotine pouches are also growing, with the U.S. market expected to reach $11.03 billion by 2027. In Canada, the market is smaller but growing, with nicotine sales projected at $12.3 billion in 2024.
February 08, 2024 by ctvnews.ca
B.C. to remove nicotine pouches from convenience stores
Nicotine pouches, specifically the brand Zonnic, will no longer be available for purchase in convenience stores in British Columbia. Premier David Eby and Health Minister Adrian Dix announced that the pouches will now be sold behind the pharmacy counter to prevent minors from easily accessing the addictive product. The move is in response to concerns about youth using smoking cessation products recreationally and the attractive packaging of Zonnic.
February 08, 2024 by globalnews.ca
B.C. restricts sale of nicotine pouches
British Columbia is introducing new regulations to prevent the sale of “nicotine pouches” to children and youth across the province. The rules taking effect Wednesday will restrict all buccal nicotine pouch products to behind the counter at pharmacies. No prescription is required, but purchasers will need to speak to a pharmacist to get it.