Canada’s Vape Flavour Ban: Where Are We Now?

Health Officials continue to fight for the vape flavour ban while the industry and community fight back

If you’ve been following the vape flavour ban drama in Canada, you know it’s been a saga. Over the years, health advocates have been pushing hard for a national ban on flavoured e-cigarettes, particularly fruity and sweet ones that they say are too appealing to kids. And, after years of anticipation, it looked like Canada was finally going to take action. Spoiler alert: they haven't. And it looks like it’s gonna be a while before anything happens.

The Flavour Ban Push

Let’s rewind a bit. The whole thing started a while ago when public health experts pointed out that youth vaping rates in Canada were sky-high — some of the highest in the world. To address this, Health Canada promised to restrict vape flavours to just mint, menthol, and tobacco. Their thinking was simple: fruity flavours (think: strawberry, watermelon, and candy) make vaping feel like a harmless, fun treat, and kids are much more likely to pick them up.

Back in 2021, Health Canada promised that these flavour restrictions would come into play by June 2024. But we’re now in 2025, and — surprise, surprise — that plan has hit a roadblock.

The Recent Disappointment: A Ban Looks Unlikely

In a recent meeting between anti-smoking groups and senior staff from the Ministry of Mental Health and Addictions, the reality hit hard. Cynthia Callard, the executive director of Physicians for a Smoke-Free Canada, was one of the people in that meeting, and she didn’t mince words. “We left the meeting with the firm belief that we are not going to see a ban on vaping flavours this year,” she said. Ouch.

Apparently, the government’s excuse? Time. With a potential election looming, they’re too busy with other things to prioritize the flavour ban. “We were told that this would not be one of the things that's prioritized in the next few weeks,” Callard explained. So, looks like vape flavours are staying put… for now.

The Big Picture: Youth Vaping Still a Concern

While the flavour ban seems to be on the backburner, there are still some big concerns from public health experts. The same week of the meeting, Canada’s top public health officials released a statement reiterating their call for a national ban on vape flavours. Their reasoning? Kids are still vaping at alarming rates, and they’re not happy about it. Seriously, Canada has one of the highest youth vaping rates in the world. That’s gotta be a medal we don’t want to win, right?

Still, despite all the warnings, it looks like the government’s not in a rush to do anything about it.

What Now? Will We Ever Get a Flavour Ban?

Honestly, who knows? The government has been talking about restricting vape flavours for years, and yet… here we are. The issue might come up again after the election, or maybe we’ll just keep waiting. But for now, flavoured e-cigarettes are here to stay. At least, that’s the plan.

Ontario’s Take: Not Much Different

In Ontario, it’s basically the same deal. While the provincial government has the power to impose additional regulations, they haven’t done much in the way of restricting vape flavours either. So, like the federal government, Ontario’s taking a “wait and see” approach. In the meantime, youth vaping rates are still rising. Go figure.

So, What's Next?

Well, it’s safe to say that, unless something drastic happens, Canada isn’t going to ban vape flavours anytime soon. And if you’re someone who likes the idea of fruity or candy-flavoured vapes, well… you’re in luck.

Vape Flavours Are Here to Stay — Come Check Out Vapour Lounge

Now that all flavours will remain legal, why not swing by Vapour Lounge to see our massive selection? From classic tobacco to wacky wild berry blends, we’ve got something for every taste (yes, even if you’re feeling fruity). And don’t forget, we’ve got 30-minute vape delivery. No, seriously, 30 minutes. We’re not just talking about your lunch here. Order now and get your flavours delivered to your door faster than you can say “I forgot to charge my vape!”

Visit Vapour Lounge today to browse our selection and get your vape on!