Usual sources of e-cigarettes

Past 30-day e-cigarette users were asked where they usually got their e-cigarette devices and liquids. Four out of five (79.5%a) purchased vaping devices for themselves from a retail source, most often from a vape shop; one in four (24.5%b) usually got vaping devices through social sources, most being given them a family member, friend, or someone else (Figure 11.34).

Bar chart showing percentage past 30-day e-cigarette users who usually got vaping devices from various sources, in 2020. Trends described in text. Data table below with 95% confidence intervals.

Figure 11.34 Data table with 95% confidence intervals
Figure 11.34: Percentage of past 30-day e-cigarette users who usually got vaping devices from various sources, 2020
Sources %
Buy from vape shop 61.5 [55.8-67.2]
Buy from regular store* 23.2 [17.0-29.3]
Buy online 10.3 [5.1-15.6]
Buy from a friend or family member 6.9 [2.1-11.8]
Ask someone to buy 7.9 [3.0-12.7]
Friend or family gives or lends 17.3 [12.0-22.6]
Other 5.1 [0.5-9.7]

*'Buy from convenience store/gas station' and/or 'Buy from supermarket, grocery or drug store'.
Note: Respondents could select multiple sources.
Data source: Canadian Tobacco and Nicotine Survey, 2020.

Sources of vaping liquids were similar: 77.8%c purchased for themselves from a retail source, most often from a vape shop, and 22.7%d usually got vaping liquids through social sources, most being given them a family member, friend, or someone else (Figure 11.35).

Bar chart showing percentage past 30-day e-cigarette users who usually got vaping liquids from various sources, in 2020. Trends described in text. Data table below with 95% confidence intervals.

Figure 11.35 Data table with 95% confidence intervals
Figure 11.35: Percentage of e-cigarette users who usually got vaping liquids from various sources, 2020
Sources %
Buy from vape shop 59.8 [53.8-65.8]
Buy from regular store* 20.1 [14.1-26.2]
Buy online 10.7 [5.4-15.9]
Buy from social source** 9.3 [4.4-14.1]
Friend or family gives or lends 17.0 [11.7-22.3]
Other 8.4 [3.4-13.5]

*'Buy from convenience store/gas station' and/or 'Buy from supermarket, grocery or drug store'.
**'Buy from a friend or family member' and/or 'Ask someone to buy'.
Note: Respondents could select multiple sources.
Data source: Canadian Tobacco and Nicotine Survey, 2020.

95% confidence intervals for in-text estimates 

a: 79.5 [75.6-83.5]
b: 24.5 [18.9-30.0]
c: 77.8 [73.4-82.2]
d: 22.7 [17.2-28.1]