Top takeaways:
- Youth vaping rates in Canada have dropped nearly 50% since 2019, according to new federal data—without the need for a nationwide flavor ban.
- The Canadian Vaping Association warns that flavor bans could undermine public health, fueling illicit markets and pushing former smokers back to cigarettes.
- The CVA urges policymakers to adopt balanced, evidence-based policies, emphasizing enforcement, education, and harm reduction rather than prohibition.
The Canadian Vaping Association (CVA) marked World Vape Day by spotlighting a major public health milestone: a nearly 50% relative decline in youth vaping rates since 2019, according to Statistics Canada’s 2025 Canadian Health Survey on Children and Youth.
The CVA attributes the decline to balanced policies that protect youth while preserving vaping as a harm reduction tool for adult smokers—without the need for a flavor ban.
“This progress demonstrates that you can reduce youth vaping without eliminating flavors that help adults quit smoking,” said Sam Tam, president of the CVA. “World Vape Day and World No Tobacco Day are pivotal moments to recognize vaping’s role in harm reduction and advancing Health Canada’s goal of reducing smoking rates to less than 5% by 2035.”
With 1.9 million adult vapers in Canada, the CVA emphasized vaping’s continued role in helping smokers transition away from combustible tobacco. However, Tam warned that recent proposals for a nationwide flavour ban—driven by what the CVA calls “misrepresented youth vaping data”—risk reversing public health gains.
“Claims that the industry targets youth with appealing flavors are false and irresponsible,” Tam said. “Vape flavor marketing to youth is illegal under the Tobacco and Vaping Products Act, and compliant businesses adhere strictly to these regulations.”
Flavor Bans May Backfire, CVA Says
Citing international examples, the CVA said flavor bans have not been effective in reducing underage vaping and have instead created unintended consequences. “Evidence shows that such policies fuel illicit markets and push former smokers back to cigarettes,” the association stated.
Instead of banning flavors, the CVA urged policymakers to strengthen enforcement against illegal sales, invest in youth-focused education, and preserve adult access to flavored harm reduction products.
The CVA’s position is supported by Health Canada’s own research, which identifies social and emotional factors—such as peer pressure, school stress, and family dynamics—as the primary reasons why youth try vaping. “Like underage drinking or cannabis use, youth vaping requires targeted interventions—not sweeping prohibitions,” said Tam.
Education Over Prohibition
In support of Health Canada’s Youth Vaping Prevention and Education Initiative, the CVA reaffirmed its commitment to public education. The program offers free resources for parents, educators, and community leaders, including the “I quit for me” toolkit designed to help teens understand and quit vaping. The initiative also features a facilitator’s guide for group education sessions.
The CVA called on all stakeholders—including public health agencies, advocacy groups, and tobacco companies—to support the federally developed tools. “By aligning under one evidence-based program, we can further reduce youth vaping nationwide,” said Tam.
A Call for Balanced Regulation
Rather than pursuing outright bans, the CVA advocates for a multi-pronged strategy that includes:
- Stronger enforcement against underage sales and illegal vape products;
- Expansion of youth-targeted education on vaping risks;
- Preservation of flavoured vape options for adults using them to quit smoking.
“Destroying a proven harm reduction tool is not the solution,” said Tam. “Canada must continue its progress through smart regulation, not prohibition.”
The association said it will continue to work with Health Canada and other stakeholders to ensure vaping remains accessible to adult smokers while preventing youth uptake.
As World Vape Day and World No Tobacco Day converge, the CVA emphasized the importance of collaboration over confrontation. “Let’s protect kids and support adult smokers—not force them back to deadly alternatives,” said Tam.
