Quebec Flavor Ban Could Force 400 Vape Shops to Close

Today, on April 21, news from foreign media reports that an industry organization states that the Quebec government's ban on flavored e-cigarette cartridges will lead to the closure of 400 e-cigarette shops across the province.

David Lévesque, a spokesperson for the Alliance des boutiques de vapotage du Québec, stated that the e-cigarette industry generates $300 million in economic by-products, and the 400 e-cigarette boutiques in the province employ over 2,200 people.

Quebec's Health Minister Christian Dubé announced the ban on Wednesday, stating that the only allowed flavor for e-cigarette cartridges in the province is tobacco flavor. The industry believes that other flavors account for a significant portion of their sales.

The government has stipulated a 45-day consultation period, but shops must stop selling flavored cartridges within 90 days.

Dubé justified the regulation by saying its goal is to protect young people.

Government statistics show that the proportion of young people using e-cigarettes increased from 4% in 2013 to 21% in 2019. The minister acknowledged that he expected the regulation would push buyers to other markets, especially online.

The Alliance des boutiques de vapotage du Québec predicts that organized crime and websites in Ontario and Indigenous stores will fill the supply gap shortly after.

The alliance hopes the province will develop a compromise solution that restricts young people's access to e-cigarette products while allowing shops to continue operating.