On World Vape Day, the Canadian Vaping Association (CVA) is shining a light on real progress: youth vaping rates in Canada are declining—and it's happening without a national flavour ban.
According to the 2025 Canadian Health Survey on Children and Youth, youth vaping has dropped by nearly 50% since 2019. That’s a major win for both public health and the responsible vaping industry.
Balanced Policies Are Working
Rather than bans or blanket restrictions, Canada’s current regulations have focused on education, enforcement, and harm reduction—and they’re working.
“World Vape Day is a reminder that vaping plays a key role in helping adult smokers quit,” said Sam Tam, President of the CVA. “We now have 1.9 million adult vapers in Canada, and flavours are a crucial part of helping them switch from cigarettes.”
But despite the success, there are still calls to ban vape flavours nationwide—claims the CVA says are based on misrepresented data.
The Flavour Ban Debate
Critics argue that flavoured vapes appeal to youth, but the CVA strongly rejects this narrative. Marketing to youth is already illegal under Canada’s Tobacco and Vaping Products Act, and compliant retailers follow the law.
“Flavour bans don’t reduce youth vaping—they push people toward the black market or back to cigarettes,” said Tam. Evidence from other countries with flavour bans supports this concern.
Why Youth Really Vape
Health Canada reports that most underage vaping stems from peer pressure, stress, and social acceptance, not from flavor alone. In other words, youth vaping is a social issue—not a product issue.
The CVA believes the solution lies in targeted education, not sweeping prohibitions that hurt adult smokers looking to quit.
Support for Prevention & Education
On World Vape Day, the CVA reaffirmed its support for Health Canada’s Youth Vaping Prevention and Education Initiative, which includes:
-
Free toolkits for parents, educators, and community leaders
-
A guide for youth: “I Quit for Me”
-
Facilitator guides for peer support programs
These resources help start real conversations and prevent youth from starting in the first place.
🧠 Learn more here: Health Canada – Vaping Prevention Resources
The CVA’s Message: Stay the Course
Rather than banning flavours, the CVA calls for:
-
Stronger enforcement against underage sales
-
More education focused on youth vaping risks
-
Preserving flavour options for adults trying to quit smoking
“Let’s not destroy a proven harm reduction tool,” Tam urged. “Canada is on the right track. Smart regulation, not prohibition, is how we protect youth while helping adults make healthier choices.”
About the CVA
The Canadian Vaping Association is the national voice for the vape industry, advocating for sensible regulation that balances youth protection with adult harm reduction.
Need help talking to youth about vaping? Want to know how to vape responsibly as an adult? Explore Health Canada’s tools and programs at canada.ca/vaping.
