The provincial government has announced new legislation that will restrict young people under the age of 19 from using e-cigarettes. Amendments will be made to the existing B.C. Tobacco Control Act, which will be renamed as the ‘Tobacco and Vapour Products Control Act.’
Under the legislation, retailers will only be permitted to sell e-cigarettes to adults aged 19 and above. E-cigarette puffing will also be banned on public and private school grounds as well as indoor public spaces and workplaces.
The proposed amendments are meant to stop the growing use of e-cigarettes by young people. Essentially, the changes are an extension of the restrictions already in place for tobacco.
“More and more young people are using e-cigarettes,” reads a statement by B.C. Health Minister Terry Lake. “This legislation will limit the exposure to children of the possible dangers of e-cigarette vapour and the potential that e-cigarettes have to normalize smoking behaviour.”
It is not known when the legislation could be brought into effect, but it will be introduced this spring. The government is providing businesses and organizations with time to prepare for the new conditions of vaping.