The National Coalition Against Contraband Tobacco (NCACT) has highlighted the fact that the well-documented problems of counterfeit and contraband cigarettes in Canada is affecting levels of youth smoking, with young people a prime target for distributors.  The NCACT’s 2009 Youth Contraband Study was conducted by an independent research company that visited high schools in Ontario and Quebec and collected cigarette butts from public grounds outside school property after hours. The butts were classified into three cateogires – legal, contraband or unknown. From this study, the report concluded that one in five cigarettes smoked is contraband, rising to one in four in certain areas. Contraband cigarettes are said to sell for around C$1 per pack, compared with C$8 per pack for taxed cigarettes.

According to the NCACT, the government needs to step up its anti-smoking efforts and include in these a ban on youth possession of tobacco.