Breadcrumb
Tobacco & Vapour Control
Our Tobacco and Vapour Control program protects you from the harms of tobacco use, vaping, and second- and third-hand smoke.
Tobacco & Vapour Enforcement Officers
Tobacco and Vapour Enforcement Officers regularly conduct inspections and compliance checks. If you see a retailer selling tobacco or e-cigarettes to a minor, please report it to your local Tobacco and Vapour Enforcement Officer at tobaccoandvape@interiorhealth.ca.
Legislation
Legislation is a key tool in reducing tobacco and vapour product use, and protecting youth from accessing tobacco and vapour products. Legislation also protects you from the harmful effects of second- and third-hand smoke and vaping aerosols.
In B.C., the Tobacco and Vapour Products Control Act and Regulation restricts the display, promotion, and sale of tobacco and vapour products (e-cigarettes) to minors, and protects the public and employees from harmful effects of second-hand smoke.
In B.C., the E-Substances Regulation restricts the sale, distribution and packaging of vapour products. All e-substances are covered by legislation and it does not matter if the e-substance contains nicotine or is nicotine-free.
About vapour products
Vapour products (also known as e-cigarettes) are devices that contain an electronic or battery-powered heating element that can vaporize an e-substance (e-juice).
- British Columbia Lung Association - Vaping and Lung Health
- Interior Health - Vapour Products Fact Sheet
Retailer information
Contact your local Tobacco and Vapour Enforcement Officer at tobaccoandvape@interiorhealth.ca if you have any questions regarding:
- How to obtain signs, decals or brochures
- Updating your information with Interior Health
- General questions, comments or complaints
Schools
All public and private kindergarten to Grade 12 schools in B.C. are tobacco and vape-free under the Tobacco and Vapour Products Control Act and Regulation. This ban extends to all school property 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, regardless of whether or not school is in session. The ban also includes vehicles, parking lots, sports fields, driveways, courtyards and private vehicles parked on school property.
Our Toolkit – Vaping School Properties provides resources to school district staff and others who are working to address the use of vapour products among youth.
School compliance information is available to advise both public and private schools of their responsibilities for showing reasonable care and diligence with the Tobacco and Vapour Products Control Act and Regulation and the and the E-Substances Regulation.
The following resources are also available:
- Tobacco & Vaping Resources for Schools
- Vaping & Youth Factsheet
- Vapour Products in and on School Property
- About Vaping (Health Canada)
- Vaping and Youth (Canadian Lung Association)
- Vaping Products Information for Teachers (British Columbia Lung Association)
- Respecting Tobacco (First Nations Health Authority)
- Action on Smoking & Health Policy Hub
IH smoke-free property
Interior Health is committed to promoting the health of our patients, employees and residents of the communities we serve.
For resources to help people reduce or stop using tobacco or vapour products, visit our Tobacco, Cannabis & Vaping page.
IH’s Smoke-Free Environment policy means that smoking and vaping are not permitted on our owned and/or operated premises, facilities, grounds and vehicles.
For patients in hospital who smoke or vape, free Nicotine Replacement Therapy is available to help you remain comfortable during your stay. Talk to your doctor or health-care provider if you would like assistance.
If you are an Indigenous patient and interested in the traditional use of tobacco, please discuss with your IH Indigenous Patient Navigator.
Families, visitors and outpatients are asked to not smoke or use e-cigarettes while on our property.
Second and third-hand smoke and vaping aerosols
Second- and third-hand smoke and vaping aerosols put your health at risk.
- Second-hand smoke and vaping aerosols come from burning or heating a cigarette, cigar, pipe or e-cigarette, and by the smoke and vapour blown out by the person smoking or vaping.
- Second-hand smoke and vaping aerosol contain harmful, toxic and cancer-causing (carcinogenic) chemicals.
- Two-thirds of cigarette smoke is not inhaled by the smoker, but enters the air around the smoker.
- Second-hand smoke and vaping aerosols seriously hurt your health. Researchers estimate that second-hand smoke kills at least 1,100 Canadians every year.
- We’re still learning about the effects of aerosols produced from e-cigarettes. Initial research suggests that vaping aerosols are not safe.
- Did you know that it’s prohibited to smoke or use vapour products in a vehicle with children under the age of 16 in B.C.? See the provincial Motor Vehicle Act to learn more.
Third-hand smoke is the toxic chemicals in smoke that stick around even after the person has stopped smoking. Third-hand smoke is trapped in hair, skin, fabric, carpet, furniture and toys.
- American Non Smokers’ Rights Foundation: Electronic Smoking Devices and Secondhand Aerosol
- American Thoracic Society: What are Second and Third-hand Smoke and Vaping Aerosols?
- Health Canada: Second-Hand Smoke
- HealthLinkBC: The Harmful Effects of Second-Hand Smoke
- Interior Health: Babies Need Breathing Space brochure
- Smoke-Free Housing BC
- WorkSafeBC: Smoking-Related Toxins
Contact information
Contact the Tobacco & Vapour Enforcement Team at tobaccoandvape@interiorhealth.ca for more information or questions pertaining to tobacco and vapour product legislation, retailer information or contravention complaints.
You can also contact the Legal Substances Team at legalsubstances@interiorhealth.ca for matters related to tobacco, vaping, cannabis or alcohol use education, policy consultation, reduction and/or prevention strategies. We support communities, First Nations, school districts, allied health professionals and other community partners to prevent and reduce legal substance-related harms.
For more information on preventing and reducing commercial tobacco use, vapour and cannabis, visit our Tobacco, Cannabis & Vaping page.
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