New poll: 96% of Canadians back keeping youth smoke-free; three-quarters support a Smoke-Free Generation law

Why it matters

This is Canada's first nationwide poll specifically measuring support for a Smoke-Free Generation law. It shows a broad, cross-regional consensus: 96% of Canadians say it is important to prevent today's children from ever taking up smoking or vaping, including 79% who call it "very important".

Released October 15, 2026 by the National Lung Health Alliance and conducted by Abacus Data, the poll finds: more than 76% support a Smoke-Free Generation law that would bar people born in 2009 or later from ever purchasing tobacco or vaping products, the same approach the U.K. has passed into law; 89% support stronger rules to keep tobacco and vaping products out of young people's hands; 85% support restricting vape flavours that appeal to children and youth, such as candy, fruit and dessert flavours; 80% say government should do more to stop youth nicotine use; and more than 9 in 10 agree smoking and vaping are harmful to health.

Support runs high even among young adults aged 18-29, with 8 in 10 backing the law. The federal government has previously said it is studying a similar rolling-age ban.