How Smoking Culture Has Evolved Across Canada

Canada has undergone a dramatic change in its smoking habits over the last 100 years. What used to be a socially accepted aspect of a person’s life is now considered a public health threat. This change is attributed to changes in medical knowledge, laws, advertising, and attitudes in daily life.

Cigarettes were seen everywhere for most of the 20th century, be it in a restaurant, at work, or during social events. Smoking was usually associated with adulthood and independence, and additionally, cigarette advertising made smoking appear as a normal and typical part of popular culture. For instance, the story of buying Canadian Classic online, in fact, has to be read always in this broader cultural context.

As the evidence of the harmful effects of smoking grew, the way in which Canada approached the issue was changing. The earliest government action against tobacco was in 1963, with a more gradual and increasing use of stronger product warnings, restrictions on advertising, and public education. By 1989, a substantial effort to limit tobacco advertising and enhance the effectiveness of health warnings had begun to shift the tobacco use problem from a social problem to one of public health in Canada.

Tobacco regulations not only affected the tobacco manufacturers and retailers, but also the conditions and locations where tobacco can be consumed and how it is displayed. Smoke-free policies over time decreased exposure to secondhand smoke and increased the norm of being smoke-free in indoor public places. Key changes include the following:

• More prominent health warnings on cigarette packages.
• In most workplaces and public places, smoking is not allowed.
• Standardized and simple packaging rules.

Just because cigarettes are no longer smoked doesn’t mean nicotine isn’t in the discussion. Vaping started to become more evident, particularly among youth, giving health authorities and communities a new health problem. It’s also about changing nicotine use and prevention efforts for a new generation doing so, and the smoking story is not only about cigarette smoking.

Smoking is down across the country but is not equally reduced in all communities. Some people and regions still use tobacco more than the rest of the population, Health Canada says, awareness of these unique differences is critical, as tobacco use and access to quitting support may be affected by social and economic circumstances.

Now, Canada’s culture is becoming more health-focused and less socialized in its attitudes towards smoking. Smoking has come down significantly in Canada, with the smoking rate of Canadian 15 + decreasing from 26.8% in 2001 to 11.9% in 2022 and 11.2% for adults (18+). However, the narrative continues as Canada takes on the challenges of tackling vaping, inequitable tobacco use, and eradicating tobacco use to below 5% by 2035.