More than two in three (68 per cent) Canadian smokers who successfully switched to vaping used flavours that are set to be banned, a new study reveals.
The report, published in the science journal PubMed, found that one in five Canadian adults who tried to quit smoking between 2020 and 2022 used a vape to help them. The most popular flavour was fruit, which was chosen by 39.5 per cent of participants who took up vaping.
Canada is poised to impose a national ban on all vape flavours except tobacco, menthol and mint. However, the new research suggests the move would negatively impact smokers who are trying to quit. The study also found that refillable vapes were more commonly used than disposables.
It says: “One in five Canadian adults who tried to quit smoking used an NVP (nicotine vaping product) during their most recent attempt; fruit flavours and prefilled cartridges or pods were most commonly used.
“68 per cent of Canadian adults who attempted to quit smoking used flavours that would be prohibited under Health Canada’s flavour restrictions proposal.”
The study found “no differences” between certain flavours or types of devices in whether participants reported quitting smoking or not.
Reducing the appeal of vapes among smokers
The researchers warn that restricting flavours could significantly reduce the appeal of switching to vapes from smoking, which is far more damaging to health. “.. The majority of all adults used flavours that would be prohibited under Health Canada’s flavour restrictions proposal,” the study says.
“This raises the possibility of unintended consequences of policies that would make NVPs (nicotine vaping product) less appealing and satisfying as substitutes for cigarettes, which might diminish initiation and maintenance of NVP use by adults who smoke and are considering switching to an NVP.”
The researchers also point out that smokers who try to quit without assistance are far less likely to be successful.
The study says: “Because of the dangers of cigarette smoking, health care providers should encourage individuals who smoke to use whatever method is necessary to stop smoking. For those attempting to quit without assistance (i.e. “cold turkey”), the failure rate for a given quit attempt is typically greater than 90 per cent.”
The study used data from the 2022 International Tobacco Control Four Country Smoking and Vaping Survey, which polled 1,771 Canadian adults.
Government department Health Canada first vowed to restrict vape flavours to mint, menthol and tobacco in June 2021, in a move it said was designed to curb a “rapid increase in youth vaping in Canada.”
“The availability of a variety of desirable flavours is believed to have contributed to the rise in youth vaping,” Health Canada said at the time, pointing to research that shows young people are more likely to start vaping with fruit and sweet flavours.
Fears of fuelling blackmarket trade
While the government has been consulting on a national flavour ban for almost four years, six provinces and territories have brought in their own flavour bans. These are New Brunswick, Nova Scotia, P.E.I., Northwest Territories, Nunavut and Quebec.
The country’s minister of mental health and addictions Ya’ara Saks recently said the delay in national regulations was due to concerns that a flavour ban will simply fuel blackmarket trade.
Sam Tam, president of the Canadian Vaping Association (CVA), pointed out that adult smokers rely on vaping as a less harmful option to cigarettes and flavours make switching easier for them.
“A blanket flavour ban will do absolutely nothing to protect Canadians, especially our youth,” he said.
The CVA warned in October that a ban on flavoured vapes in Canada would have “devastating public health consequences.”
It said in a statement that the proposed legislation undermines the country’s goal of becoming ‘smoke-free’ (defined as a smoking rate of under five per cent) by 2035.
