Time for a Ban on Youth Smoking in Canada

As World No Tobacco Day approaches, Canada's youth are facing widespread access to cheap, unregulated, and untaxed cigarettes through a growing trade in contraband tobacco, despite current laws forbidding regulated retailers from selling tobacco to minors. Smoking rates among young people are plateauing, and it's time to explore new tools to prevent kids from smoking. Dave Bryans, President of the Canadian Convenience Stores Association, is advocating for a strict ban on youth possession and use of tobacco, similar to laws implemented in Alberta, Nova Scotia, and several US states.

Key Takeaways:

• A ban on youth possession and use of tobacco has been proposed in Canada to prevent kids from smoking, with the goal of becoming a global leader in protecting youth from tobacco dangers.
• Current laws in Canada forbid regulated retailers from selling tobacco to minors, but contraband cigarettes are widely available, leading to increasing youth smoking rates.
• Evidence suggests that youth cigarette possession bans, when combined with other smoking reduction programs, have been effective in reducing smoking rates.
• Jurisdictions such as Alberta, Nova Scotia, Ohio, New Hampshire, Minnesota, and Colorado have already implemented youth smoking bans.
• Implementing a ban on youth smoking possession would align with social norms that prohibit minors from possessing and using beer, which is typically restricted to those 18 or 19 years old.
• The Canadian Convenience Stores Association is supporting the introduction of a stricter ban on youth possession of cigarettes.

Statistics:

• According to available data, youth smoking rates in Canada are no longer declining.
• Contraband tobacco trades are growing, providing young people with access to cheap, unregulated cigarettes.
• Several US states, including Ohio, New Hampshire, Minnesota, and Colorado, have implemented youth smoking bans.
• Alberta and Nova Scotia have also adopted similar laws to combat youth smoking.

Sources:

• World No Tobacco Day Redux: Canada Needs a Real Ban on Youth Smoking: Dave Bryans quoted by [Canadian Convenience Stores Association]