Student group wants flavoured vapes banned; businesses say they're being targeted
A student advocacy group to prevent youth nicotine addiction says it wants the Alberta and federal governments to place a ban on all fruity and sweet vape juices.
"Flavours such as menthol or fruity flavours can also attract youth to be more likely to be wanting to partake in smoking or start these addictions because they're more accessible," said Lisa Wei, a member of Stop Addicting Adolescents to Vaping and E-Cigarettes (SAAVE).
"It's concerning that Alberta has not yet taken the response to ban all of these additional flavours."
Wei says the group wants governments to ban all flavours, except tobacco, prohibit single-use vapes and remove vapes from shelves and place them behind pharmacy counters.
The group of University of Calgary students also surveyed every MLA in the province between Sept. 23 and Oct. 7, each being contacted three times by the group.
Forty per cent did not respond but two UCP MLAs agreed vapes should be sold behind a pharmacy counter.
Overall, 92 per cent of those who did respond were either not in favour of any of the proposals or did not state a position.
"We have learned a lot of lessons regarding the communication barriers but I believe it's important to maintain this optimism to move forward in the future to create more opportunities," Wei said.
"Single-use vaping devices have been shown to be able to attract more youth."
The federal minister of addictions office told CTV News on Monday it expects new legislation to come in "about a month" but added there are still several kinks to work out.
Any ban, however, would impact local business, including vape shops such as Bobilicious Vapes in Silverado.
Gregory Langston and Nancy Yip both say a ban of flavoured vapes will cause significant harm to thousands of small-business owners nationwide.
"I think you would probably see a lot of the small-business portion of the industry start to disappear," Langston said.
"Certainly feel targeted in considering all of the different vices that are available to the everyday public."
Langston says vaping has actually helped cigarette smokers make healthier lifestyle choices.
"Helping smokers quit cigarettes, it really makes you question a lot of things," Langston said.
"And why so much effort is being put toward this particular industry."
Yip says vapes behind pharmacy counters and restricting flavours will possibly force users to an illegal market.
"We personally guaranteed our house on this," she said.
"So, I'm sure a lot of other shops have as well. We're all probably scrambling if there's only a month. That's not a lot of time to prepare."
Alberta's ministry of health says its Tobacco, Smoking and Vaping Reduction Act (TSVRA) initially consulted Albertans on policy.
"We heard from former smokers that the availability of flavoured vaping products assisted them in quitting. However, we also heard that these flavours may attract youth to use vaping products," said spokesperson Jessi Rampton.
The province says it took a balanced approach but is unclear on when the federal government's plan to ban fruity and sweet vaping flavours will take effect.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Calls for Ottawa to end Canada Post strike mount as businesses face challenges
As the Canada Post strike nears its three-week mark, stores across the country have turned to alternate measures to send products to paying customers and keep operations running smoothly.
Trump making 'joke' about Canada becoming 51st state is 'reassuring': Ambassador Hillman
Canada's ambassador to the U.S. insists it's a good sign U.S. president-elect Donald Trump feels 'comfortable' joking with Canadian officials, including Prime Minister Justin Trudeau.
Mexico president says Canada has a 'very serious' fentanyl problem
Foreign Affairs Minister Mélanie Joly is not escalating a war of words with Mexico, after the Mexican president criticized Canada's culture and its framing of border issues.
Search extends into the night for Pennsylvania woman who may have fallen into sinkhole
A grandmother looking for her lost cat apparently fell into a sinkhole that had recently opened above an abandoned western Pennsylvania coal mine and rescuers worked late into the night Tuesday to try and find her.
From niche grocer to supermarket giant: How T&T plans to repeat success in the U.S.
Canada's biggest Asian grocery chain is expanding into the U.S., hoping to bring its patented array of food, skin care and more to a new market.
South Korea's opposition parties submit a motion to impeach President Yoon over sudden martial law
South Korea's opposition parties Wednesday submitted a motion to impeach President Yoon Suk Yeol over the shocking and short-lived martial law that drew heavily armed troops to encircle parliament before lawmakers climbed walls to re-enter the building and unanimously voted to lift his order.
Freeland says it was 'right choice' for her not to attend Mar-a-Lago dinner with Trump
Deputy Prime Minister and Finance Minister Chrystia Freeland says it was 'the right choice' for her not to attend the surprise dinner with Prime Minister Justin Trudeau at Mar-a-Lago with U.S. president-elect Donald Trump on Friday night.
A list of mispronounced words provides a retrospective of 2024, from Kamala to Chappell
U.S. Vice President Kamala Harris and breakout pop star Chappell Roan were among the year's most talked-about people. Their names were also among the most mispronounced.
Quebec doctors who refuse to stay in public system for 5 years face $200K fine per day
Quebec's health minister has tabled a bill that would force new doctors trained in the province to spend the first five years of their careers working in Quebec's public health network.