Canadian smokers support innovative action to combat smoking
April 12, 2022
Par: National Committee Against Smoking
Dernière mise à jour: April 12, 2022
Temps de lecture: 5 minutes
A Canadian study tested several new measures being considered to combat smoking among smokers, ex-smokers and vapers. The results indicate, among other things, strong acceptance among smokers of lower nicotine levels in cigarettes, the sale of substitution treatments alongside tobacco products and the banning of promotional offers on tobacco.
The study, conducted by the University of Waterloo, is part of the International Tocacco Control (ITC) Policy Evaluation Project, and has also been deployed in the United States, the United Kingdom and Australia.[1]The aim was to interview smokers, ex-smokers and vapers about new anti-smoking measures, in order to understand their perceptions and assess their level of acceptability.
A sample of smokers, vapers and ex-smokers
Six types of proposed measures were tested: a significant reduction in the nicotine content of cigarettes, a requirement for tobacco retailers to also sell nicotine replacement therapy (NRT), a ban on promotional offers on tobacco products, a health warning on cigarettes, a total ban on tobacco sales within ten years, and a ban on the sale of tobacco products in gas stations and grocery stores. Promotional offers are prohibited in principle in Canada, but rebates are still permitted between manufacturers and retailers, allowing for discounted offers that partly offset the effect of tax increases.
These measures were administered to a sample of 3,650 people who included smokers (of cigarettes and other tobacco products, including heated tobacco, and who may be vapers), ex-smokers and ex-smoking or non-smoking vapers.
Clear support for reducing nicotine levels in cigarettes
The results show that nearly two-thirds of smokers support reducing the nicotine content of cigarettes. A majority also support requiring retailers to sell NRTs and banning tobacco promotions. About a third supported putting health warnings on cigarettes and banning tobacco sales at age 10, and only a quarter supported banning sales at gas stations and grocery stores.
Canadian smokers are more supportive of all of these measures than smokers in the United States, the United Kingdom and Australia, with the exception of requiring the sale of NRT among tobacco products, where they are outstripped by Australian smokers. Support for a total ban on tobacco sales within ten years stands at 18% among smokers in the United States, compared to 30% among smokers in Australia and Canada and 29% in the United Kingdom.
Recent ex-smokers most supportive of new anti-smoking measures
Overall, ex-smokers and vapers are more supportive than smokers of all proposed measures, particularly those related to the marketing and sale of tobacco products. Vapers are most likely to support reducing nicotine levels in cigarettes and requiring retailers to sell NRTs. Ex-smokers are more likely to support banning tobacco promotions, health warnings on cigarettes, banning tobacco sales within 10 years, and banning sales in gas stations and grocery stores.
The ITC study thus shows that smokers and ex-smokers are far from being hostile to innovative measures in the fight against smoking. It confirms other studies conducted among smokers showing their clear acceptance of these new measures.[2], and more generally their desire to stop smoking for two thirds of them.
While several of the measures tested are planned in some countries, most of them have not yet been implemented, with the exception of the ban on promotional offers and the restriction of points of sale. The ban on the sale of tobacco products, applied in Bhutan from 2010 to 2020, is currently only effective in a few US cities (Brookline, Beverly Hills, Manhattan Beach). Reducing the nicotine level in cigarettes and reducing the number of points of sale are being considered by the New Zealand government and will be closely observed by countries committed to the goal of a tobacco-free generation, which is planned for 2025 in New Zealand. The United Kingdom is currently the only country to have planned the introduction of health warnings on cigarettes.
Keywords: smokers, ex-smokers, vapers, Canada, ITC, anti-smoking measures, tobacco control
M.F.
[1] ITC Project, Support for cigarette and vaping policies in Canada, Evidence from the International Tobacco Control Policy Evaluation Project, University of Waterloo, Ontario, Canada, February 2022. [2] Study: Smokers support new anti-smoking measures in Pakistan, Generation Without Tobacco, published on December 17, 2020, consulted on April 6, 2022. National Committee Against Smoking |
