N.L. might raise the age for tobacco sales — or ban it for future generations — and experts are applauding

Industry experts say Newfoundland and Labrador is leading the way in the fight against smoking and could create a smoke-free generation if new policy comes to fruition. 

The province will soon ask for input from residents on topics like increasing the legal purchase age from 19 to 21 and outright prohibiting the sale of tobacco to anyone born after a certain date. That will be part of an EngageNL survey later this month.

“This is leading policy and would really put Newfoundland and Labrador on the cutting edge of this tobacco and vaping policy,” Liz Scanlon, the Heart and Stroke Foundation’s vice-president of health systems, told CBC News on Monday.

By setting a birth date as a cutoff point, the change to legislation would ensure that people born after that date would never be able to legally purchase tobacco. A date in Newfoundland and Labrador hasn’t been officially set, as the idea is going through consultation, but officials point to Prince Edward Island, which is considering banning tobacco sales to anyone born after Jan. 1, 2009.

Scanlon said that would create two groups of people in the province — those who can legally smoke and those who can’t — but said it’s important to note a change wouldn’t affect current smokers and would serve as a preventive measure for the future.

“Evidence shows that if you can keep someone from starting to smoke until they’re adults, they’re very unlikely to initiate,” she said. “And so we hope that by the time we’re talking about 45- and 46-year-olds, that people will understand why they’re actually being protected through this policy and not penalized.”

Scanlon said a legislative change would also mean future health benefits, and noted smoking costs the Newfoundland and Labrador health-care system $123 million a year.

Rob Cunningham, a senior policy analyst with the Canadian Cancer Society, said he sees value in the possible policy as an innovative measure to cut down on smoking over time.

“Today, if smoking was banned, it wouldn’t work because of contraband. So many people are addicted, it simply wouldn’t be feasible. But this would, to phase it in,” he said.

“The overwhelming majority of smokers began as underage teenagers or pre-teens. And if we can prevent youth from starting, we’re going to have a huge impact long term.”

Cunningham said other provinces have already raised their minimum age to purchase tobacco to 21, including P.E.I. where there is a strong public opinion that it was a step in the right direction.

When asked if increasing the minimum age and phasing out purchasing over time would lead to people obtaining cigarettes through illegal methods, Cunningham said the policy could go further  — like establishing that tobacco only be sold at specialty stores, similar to cannabis.

“Those who are currently 17 or 18 are less likely to know someone who’s 21, and that’s why age 21 is also in itself established in the United States,” he said. “Speeding laws on highways, they’re not perfect. But they do make a difference compared to there not being that speeding law.”

Both Cunningham and Scanlon say they’re eager to see where the consultation on possible changes will go, and both called on the province to ensure that vaping and vaping products are also considered.

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