Local public health officials are calling on federal and provincial governments to tighten the laws governing vaping.
At its meeting on Wednesday, the Hastings Prince Edward Board of Health decided to write to the governments calling for a number of changes.
Among these, the following measures are being sought:
1. The minimum purchase age for vaping and tobacco products be increased
to 21
2. Further reduce the number of flavoured products in specialty vape shops, corner
stores and gas stations to only tobacco flavour (i.e. currently tobacco, mint and
menthol are permitted), and
3. Introduce the dedicated sales taxes for vapour products, such as tobacco
taxes. Currently HST only applies to vapour product sales.
The province and the federal government should work together to introduce sales
taxes that raise the cost of vapour products. Provincial tobacco taxes and federal
excise taxes have deterred youth tobacco use, and similar measures are likely to have
the same effect with youth vaping.
1. The minimum purchase age for vaping and tobacco products be increased
to 21
2. Further reduce the number of flavoured products in specialty vape shops, corner
stores and gas stations to only tobacco flavour (i.e. currently tobacco, mint and
menthol are permitted), and
3. Introduce the dedicated sales taxes for vapour products, such as tobacco
taxes. Currently HST only applies to vapour product sales.
The province and the federal government should work together to introduce sales
taxes that raise the cost of vapour products. Provincial tobacco taxes and federal
excise taxes have deterred youth tobacco use, and similar measures are likely to have
the same effect with youth vaping.
Health unit official Roberto Almeida comments.
“Trying to correct some of the mistakes that were done in 2018 when vaping products were made legal in Canada through the Tobacco and Vaping Products Act. Since then we’ve learned our lesson and obviously youth consumption has sky-rocketed.”
What You Can Do – The Six Strategies:
1. Know what’s going on in your child’s life
2. Develop open and regular communication
3. Set expectations and consequences together
4. Be a positive role model
5. Build a close caring relationship
6. Know the law
(Source: HPEPH’s Strategies for Parents to Prevent or Delay Teen Substance Abuse
1. Know what’s going on in your child’s life
2. Develop open and regular communication
3. Set expectations and consequences together
4. Be a positive role model
5. Build a close caring relationship
6. Know the law
(Source: HPEPH’s Strategies for Parents to Prevent or Delay Teen Substance Abuse
