The Canadian Cancer Society is calling for tougher tobacco-related regulations after new data released today shows a very high number of high school students are using flavoured tobacco products.

The national Youth Smoking Survey found more than half (53 per cent) of high school students in BC who used tobacco products in the previous 30 days had used flavoured tobacco products.  This equates to approximately 30,500 BC students.  Fruit, candy and menthol flavoured tobacco reduces the harsh effects of cigarette smoke for youth who are experimenting with smoking, making it easier for them to become addicted to tobacco.

“These numbers clearly show there is an urgent and compelling need for the BC government to ban all flavoured tobacco products,” says Kathryn Seely, Public Issues Director, Canadian Cancer Society, BC and Yukon.  “We need swift action to protect our youth from these products.  It is essential that BC’s Health Minister address this issue quickly.”

In Canada, many categories of tobacco products are heavily flavoured, including cigarillos (little cigars), water pipe tobacco, smokeless tobacco and menthol cigarettes.  Flavours include chocolate, mint, cherry, peach, strawberry, and other fruit and candy flavours that are appealing to youth.

“These alarming data are a wake-up call that more government action is needed to protect our youth from becoming addicted to tobacco products,” says Steve Manske, Senior Scientist, Propel Centre for Population Health Impact, University of Waterloo.  “Flavoured tobacco products were used by almost 170,000 Canadian high school students.”