Ottawa –The Canadian Lung Association welcomes the announcement yesterday from Health Minister Rona Ambrose of new legislation to further restrict the use of flavours in most types of cigars. However, the Association urges the government to go further and ban all flavoured tobacco products in Canada, including menthol.
Flavour is not restricted to cigars. Water pipe and chew tobacco are all widely available in fruit and candy flavours.
"Flavoured tobacco targets young Canadians. This new legislation closes a loophole, but more work needs to be done to reduce the availability of other flavoured tobacco products, such as water pipe tobacco, smokeless tobacco and menthol cigarettes," says Debra Lynkowski, president and CEO of the Canadian Lung Association.
“We welcome the federal government’s movement on e-cigarettes,” adds Ms. Lynkowski. “We need more research and we need informed regulations.”
Quick facts:
- The 2012-13 Youth Smoking Survey found that of Canadian high school students who consume tobacco, fully 50 per cent use flavoured tobacco. And of high school students who smoke, 29 per cent smoke menthol cigarettes.i
- Fruit, candy and menthol flavoured tobacco reduces the harsh effects of tobacco smoke for youth who are experimenting with smoking, making it easier for them to become addicted.
- E-cigarettes are available in a variety of flavours and appealing packaging, and may be attractive to children and teenagers. Unlike regular cigarettes, anyone can buy e-cigarettes, including children under 18.
- More than 100 Canadians die each day from smoking-related diseases and approximately three die each day from second-hand smoke.
- Smoking and tobacco use is the single largest preventable cause of lung disease and death in Canada.
- In Canada, about 16 per cent of the population aged 15 and older are smokers – that's about one in six Canadians.
About The Lung Association
Established in 1900, The Lung Association is one of Canada's oldest and most respected health charities, and the leading national organization for science-based information, research, education, support programs and advocacy on lung heath issues.
Contact:
For further information, national media representatives may contact:
Janis Hass
Director of Marketing and Communications
The Canadian Lung Association
(613) 569-6411, ext. 252
jhass@lung.ca
