Province proposes law restricting youth access to flavoured vapes

The Manitoba government is cracking down on flavoured vape sales.

Proposed legislation, introduced Tuesday, would prohibit urban businesses open to all ages from selling flavoured vapes.

In rural areas, the products would be allowed inside corner and convenience stores as long as they were stocked out of customers’ view, similar to tobacco.

“What we’ve seen is that vape products, quite frankly, they’re branded for kids,” Health Minister Uzoma Asagwara said, adding flavoured vapes are a gateway to tobacco use.

Adults can buy flavoured vapes in age-restricted vape shops and in convenience stores.

The proposed legislation doesn’t go far enough to prevent youths from vaping, said Juliette Mucha, president of the Manitoba Lung Association.

“The youth-appealing flavours — candy, fruits, dessert flavours — they’re still remaining accessible,” Mucha said, noting minors can get the products from adults or purchase them online.

“Unfortunately, it’s only going to hurt certain small business owners who will no longer be able to carry the product, but larger business owners will still be able to.”

Nearly one-fifth of Grade 7 to 12 students in Manitoba — 18.4 per cent — reported using vapes within a month of being surveyed by Health Canada, in 2023-24. Manitoba surpassed the national average of 15.5 per cent.

Several provinces, including Nova Scotia and New Brunswick, have banned flavoured vapes completely (aside from tobacco flavour).

Manitoba isn’t taking that route, Asagwara said, because some adults wean themselves off of smoking cigarettes by vaping.

Still, more measures could be taken for youth prevention, Mucha argued, suggesting the addition of warning labels similar to those on cigarette cartons, could help.

The minimum age for purchasing should be raised to 21, she said.

“This is a no-brainer bill… It’s an easy one to support. It’s not complicated– protect kids, make sure that we take a step in the right direction.”

Asagwara expects the bill will become law “very, very quickly.”

“This is a no-brainer bill,” the minister said. “It’s an easy one to support. It’s not complicated — protect kids, make sure that we take a step in the right direction.”

Opposition Leader Obby Khan expressed support, but noted he hadn’t seen any details Tuesday afternoon.

“Anything where we’re protecting kids, we’re on board with,” he said.

“It’s more concerning and telling that… (the NDP are) unorganized, and they’re not a real, serious government. They brought it with three days left sitting in session (before summer break). If it’s so important, why didn’t they bring it earlier?”

Enforcement of the new rules would align with how the province polices cigarette sales, Asagwara said, adding there are no concerns about lost tax revenue.

Manitoba and Ottawa inked an excise tax agreement where each government would receive half of vape tax revenue. The deal took effect on Jan. 1, 2025.

Most vapes contain nicotine, along with numerous other chemicals and additives. The World Health Organization and the Johns Hopkins School of Public Health have published articles expressing concern that youth risk nicotine addiction by vaping.

gabrielle.piche@winnipegfreepress.com