Less than a month after the law banning the sale of flavored e-cigarettes went into effect, specialty stores are exploiting the law’s gray areas by offering artificial liquid flavors on their shelves.
By converting their business model to convenience stores, many stores were able to circumvent the law.
This allows them to sell “flavor shots”, flavored nicotine-free liquids that can be added to real tasteless e-liquids, but also to recipes or cocktails.
The Journal noted that several companies in the province have turned to this alternative.
This is a gray area because, as the Department of Health and Human Services (MSSS) explains, e-cigarette companies “cannot sell food unless they hide their tobacco and e-cigarette display and turn into a simple point of sale like a supermarket.”
Quebec Coalition for Tobacco Control spokesperson Flory Doucas not only says she is “extremely discouraged,” but also expresses some reservations about the remodeling of certain stores, which she describes as “pretty dubious.”
“If the sign stays there, the employees still wear their uniforms and hardly sell anything else, that’s not a real change and I think the ministry should intervene,” explains the one who doesn’t, and is not surprised to say so see industry circumvents the law “again.”
“A sword in the water”
For its part, the Quebec vaping rights coalition goes so far as to compare the law to a “sword in the water.”
“It was certain that people would find a way to flavor their products and that specialty stores would change their business mission when they realized their sales would drop by 50%,” says spokeswoman Valérie Gallant.
The latter is concerned about minors who, due to the change of profession, now have access to shops, even if they still cannot buy e-cigarettes.
“We completely missed the main goal. […] By wanting to protect young people, we have opened the door even further for them,” says the spokesman.
The ministry is analyzing the situation
However, the government says it is closely monitoring the situation.
“MSSS inspectors are on site to analyze situations and verify compliance with the Tobacco Control Act and its regulations. “Manufacturers and retailers who violate the measures of the current law face significant fines,” said a statement from the Ministry of Health and Human Services.