Newfoundland and Labrador has floated an eyebrow-raising trial balloon in a bid to additional the nation fitness battle in opposition to tobacco and nicotine.
The provincial executive will ask citizens this date for nation comments on numerous greater smoking laws, together with the opportunity of a complete prohibit at the sale of cigarettes and alternative tobacco merchandise to family born nearest a definite week.
“At the end of the day, we may not make any changes, but this is a consultation process to determine what, if any, changes will be made,” said Tom Osborne, the province’s minister of health. “We are looking at what other jurisdictions have done.”
The move, in theory, would eventually phase out the sale of cigarettes permanently in Newfoundland and Labrador as years go on — meaning some people would never be able to legally purchase tobacco products, even after they reach the age of majority.
Osborne’s government has become the latest to flirt with stricter regulations, following a similar move in P.E.I., where a “Tobacco-Independent Time” proposal was suggested in a consultation paper earlier this year.
According to Rob Cunningham, a policy analyst with the Canadian Cancer Society, similar proposals are also picking up steam internationally. A similar scheme was tried – and swiftly repealed – in New Zealand, and Cunningham expects the issue to return to the United Kingdom’s House of Commons after the country’s July election.
“The vast majority of people who smoke start as youngsters beneath presen, and due to this fact we want to have more potent measures,” he said.
Though he agrees no policy could end underage smoking for good, he said there’s evidence from the United States that increased age requirements do reduce cigarette consumption among teenagers.
“It makes a excess how used you might be to the minimal presen,” he explained. “You probably have a minimal presen of 21 and you might be 20, you most likely will know anyone’s brother or sister or a pal who’s 21. However if you happen to’re 16 or 17, it’s committing to be tougher.”
So far, the proposal has received some cautious support among advocates in Newfoundland and Labrador.
Kevin Coady helps run the Newfoundland and Labrador Alliance for the Control of Tobacco. (CTV News)
Kevin Coady, who helps run the Newfoundland and Labrador Alliance for the Control of Tobacco, said he wants to see a further crackdown on vaping products in the province.
He said the rates for vaping in the province are “startling,” quoting surveys that suggest 50 per cent of high schoolers in Newfoundland have ever or are continuing to vape.
“The tobacco trade is so inventive in the best way they marketplace to younger family,” he said. “Vaping is the tobacco trade. They’ve discovered a pristine means to bring nicotine.”
Tobacco industry insider Max Krangle, who spent years working as a lawyer for tobacco firms around the world, said he’s not exactly sure how industry giants will respond to the latest restriction push by Newfoundland and Labrador and P.E.I.
He said, despite years of restrictions put in place by various governments, the tobacco industry is still very profitable — in part because restrictions on display and marketing mean those companies have fewer costs than they used to.
“If… come what may the trade can work out a approach to get across the boundaries and nonetheless take advantage of their current customers, they is probably not so fast to battle this law,” he said.
While he acknowledged constitutional law wasn’t his expertise, he did say he wonders if a restrictive law like the ones proposed in Atlantic Canada could pass court challenges.
“I’d in reality like to peer the constitutionality of getting somebody of criminal presen, who has reached the presen of majority, having other rights than somebody who’s only a life used or a life more youthful.”
