Quebec Vape Shops to Close During the Pandemic in Canada
Quebec classified vape shops as non-essential during the COVID-19 lockdown and also barred online sales of vaping products, prompting criticism from the local industry association.
The Ministry of Health has classified vape shops as non-essential businesses, thus ruling that they remain closed during the COVID-19 lockdown. While this special measure has been praised for encouraging social distancing, it has also faced criticism for including a ban on the online sale of vaping products.<\/span><\/div>
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Valérie Gallant, director of the Quebec Vapor Association (AQV), received a letter from local authorities stating that vape shops are not included in the list of priority stores issued by the government. She mentioned that she is trying to turn to convenience stores where products can be stocked.<\/span><\/div>
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She added that so far, only the Saga Group (an independent convenience store in Quebec) has expressed an open attitude towards this idea. Ms. Gallant said, “The president will forward the documents to his franchisees, and they will contact me for orders.”<\/span><\/div>
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Similarly, Ontario Premier Doug Ford has just released a list of essential services that will remain open, which does not include vape shops. The Canadian Vaping Association (CVA) believes this will be detrimental to public health.<\/span><\/div>
“The Ontario government has taken many positive steps to protect the physical and mental health of Ontarians. CVA Executive Director Darryl Tempest stated: “We are asking them to continue to include vape shops as an essential service and comply with the requirements of Section 55 of the Ontario Essential Workplaces List compiled in response to COVID-19.”<\/span><\/div>
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Ironically, while vape shops have been excluded from essential businesses, liquor stores have been allowed to remain open. “Thus, these businesses clearly fall under the definition of essential services as outlined in Section 55 of the Ontario Essential Workplaces List. Unlike many of the services listed by the Ontario government here, only adult vape shops have registered with our local health department in Ontario.”<\/span><\/div>
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Reopening Vape Shops in Europe<\/span><\/div>
Meanwhile, in Europe, some countries allow vape shops to continue operating, while others (such as France, Spain, and Italy) initially closed shops but are now allowing them to reopen. In Italy, the award-winning Dr. Riccardo Polosa explained why it is absurd to keep tobacco vendors open while closing stores that sell safer alternatives.<\/span><\/div>
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“...Thousands of smokers will face the risk of returning to smoking. I believe this is a public health issue. Similarly, many vapers with respiratory diseases have reduced their symptoms by vaping, and stopping vaping will lead to an acute exacerbation of respiratory diseases. This will cause great damage to the national health system when you have ICU beds without other available space.”<\/span><\/div>
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