Key points:
- Bans vape sales in vending machines.
- Increases penalties for selling to minors under 21.
- Requires vape products sold in Alabama to be U.S.-manufactured.
- Authorizes retailers to obtain licenses to sell alternative nicotine products.
Governor Kay Ivey signed House Bill 8 (HB8) into law last week, introducing stringent regulations on the sale of vaping products across Alabama. Effective June 1, 2025, the law restricts convenience stores to selling only 34 tobacco and menthol-flavored e-cigarette products authorized by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration.
All other flavored e-cigarettes, including those pending FDA review, will be prohibited from sale in these outlets and confined to age-restricted vape shops . The legislation also bans vape sales through vending machines, increases penalties for selling to individuals under 21, mandates that all vape products sold in the state be manufactured in the United States, and requires retailers to obtain licenses to sell alternative nicotine products.
Most vaping products, and all vaping products with FDA authorization, are manufactured in China.
State Senator David Sessions, who sponsored the measure in the Senate, acknowledged the potential impact on convenience stores, stating, “I hate it for [c-stores]. … A few bad actors can cause problems. But when you have folks out there selling to underage people without checking IDs, then that’s a problem.”
Industry representatives have expressed concern that the legislation will severely impact small businesses, noting that alternative nicotine products account for about 30% of convenience store sales statewide
