Poll finds 61% of Canadians say Canada should consider U.K. ‘generational smoking ban’

The Story

A Research Co. online survey conducted from Sept. 21 to 23, 2026 reports that 61% of Canadians say Canada should consider the U.K.’s plan to keep the next generation “smoke-free.”

The poll also found that, by a 3-to-1 margin, Canadians have a positive view of the U.K. legislation, with 66% holding favourable opinions, 21% holding negative views, and 14% undecided.

In the U.K., the legislation—ratified earlier this year—comes into force in 2027 and would increase the legal age to purchase cigarettes by one year every year, so that people born in or after 2009 would never be allowed to purchase cigarettes.

The survey reported that 21% of Canadians said they smoked tobacco in the past year, unchanged from April 2024, compared with 18% who smoked marijuana (down one point) and 16% who vaped (unchanged).

It also found that 7% of Canadians consumed chewable tobacco and 17% tried marijuana in a non-smoking form such as edibles.

Support for similar rules in Canada was reported across age groups, including 65% among those aged 18 to 34, 59% among those aged 35 to 54, and 58% among those aged 55 and over, according to the survey.

Regionally, support for a ban on cigarette purchases among young people was reported as 73% in B.C., 63% in Quebec, and 60% in Saskatchewan and Manitoba, with Ontario at 59%, Alberta at 54%, and Atlantic Canada at 54%.

Among people who smoked in the past year, the poll found 52% favour a similar Canadian ban, compared with 63% of non-smokers.

The survey reported that 71% of Canadians agree with Canada’s mandate requiring warning labels printed on individual cigarettes sold in Canada, including 66% of smokers and 72% of non-smokers.

Research Co. said the results are based on an online survey of 1,003 adults in Canada, weighted according to Canadian census figures for age, gender and region, with a margin of error of +/- 3.1 percentage points, 19 times out of 20.