The new tobacco laws restrict how tobacco and tobacco products can be sold, displayed and promoted. These laws are in effect March 31, 2008. Tobacconists and duty-free stores are not exempt from these new laws.

Tobacco cannot be sold in publicly owned buildings such as hospitals and government buildings, or public post-secondary institutions. Pharmacies are not included in the sales restrictions provided they are not in publicly owned buildings.

If you are a tobacco retailer operating in a hospital or other health facility, a recreational facility, on a public post-secondary campus, or in a building owned by the provincial government or a Crown agency, please contact the facilities manager.

If you are a retail operator in a privately owned medical building, you can continue to sell tobacco as the building is not included in the definition of “health care services”.

Tobacco cannot be promoted through such methods as manufacturers signs, videos, or logos on t-shirts, lighters, ball caps etc. except as specified in the Tobacco Control Regulation.

For further information on display and promotion restrictions, download the brochure.

What are the display restrictions for tobacco products?
What are the promotion restrictions for tobacco products?
What are the penalties and fines for not complying with the new tobacco laws?
My retail operation is almost exclusively tobacco products catering to adult customers. How do I comply with the new tobacco laws?
Are there other Canadian provinces/territories that ban tobacco retail displays?

What are the display restrictions for tobacco products?

Tobacco products cannot be displayed or visible to minors inside of your store. In addition, they cannot be clearly visible to a person outside of the store.

The Tobacco Control Regulation does not specify how a retailer should ensure that the tobacco products are not visible. For guidance on options you might consider to ensure that tobacco products are not visible, click here.

What are the promotion restrictions for tobacco products?

The only signage that retailers can use to advertise that they sell tobacco as follows:

• The sign can’t be bigger than 968 square centimeters;
• The sign can only use black lettering not more than 5 cm high, on a white background;
• There can’t be any type of graphic or design on the sign, or use any symbol except the $ sign;
• There can’t be any tobacco brands or manufacturer names on the signs;
• The sign can only advertise the type of tobacco products sold, and the prices or price range.

What are the penalties and fines for not complying with the new tobacco laws?

As a tobacco retailer, you could face administrative penalties, sales prohibitions, and fines if the new tobacco display/advertising restrictions are not met. The amount and extent of these penalties have been set by regulation. Click here for more information.

My retail operation is almost exclusively tobacco products catering to adult customers. How do I comply with the new tobacco laws?

Tobacco retailers have three options:

• allow minors to enter the store, in which case they will no longer be able to have in open sight or handle any cigarettes or other forms of tobacco or tobacco products - either inside or from outside of the establishment ;
• allow minors to enter the store generally, but exclude them from areas where tobacco is sold. In that case, they can display tobacco products only in that area provided that the tobacco products cannot be viewed or accessed by minors from anywhere inside the establishment, or by a person from outside (e.g. a window or open door);
• do not allow minors to enter the store at all, in which case they can display tobacco products provided a person cannot view them from outside the establishment.

Are there other Canadian provinces/territories that ban tobacco retail displays?

Yes, several other jurisdictions have either introduced or are introducing similar bans on tobacco displays. Saskatchewan, Manitoba and Northwest Territories ban retail displays where minors have access, while Quebec, Ontario, Nova Scotia, PEI and Nunavut have complete bans on display of tobacco products. Alberta recently introduced legislation that will result in tobacco display restrictions. In addition, the federal government has released a discussion paper: A Proposal to Regulate the Display and Promotion of Tobacco and Tobacco-Related Products at Retail.

For additional information on BC laws restricting tobacco sales to minors, download this brochure.