Alabama’s new vaping law now in effect: How HB8’s regulations affect you

Alabama’s first regulations on vaping went into effect Sunday.

The new law, HB8, aims at curtailing vaping among Alabama youth by increasing fines for businesses and restricting which vape flavors can be sold.

The law, which went into effect June 1, also bans nicotine alternatives from being sold in vaping machines while also adding new licensing regulations for businesses.

Under HB8, convenience stores throughout Alabama will only be allowed to sell just 34 tobacco and menthol-flavored e-cigarette products approved by the Food and Drug Administration. All other flavors — including hundreds currently pending FDA review — will be banned from sale except in age-restricted vape shops where only those 21 and over can enter.

The law also requires vape products sold in Alabama to be U.S.-manufactured; authorizes retailers to obtain licenses to sell alternative nicotine products; and mandates the State Board of Education create a vaping education and prevention program for schools.

HB8 also has implications on how the Alabama Alcoholic Beverage Control Board issues licenses.

The ABC tobacco permit allows stores to sell tobacco, tobacco products and/or non-vapor based alternative nicotine or e-liquid, electronic nicotine delivery systems and vapor-based alternative nicotine products that received an FDA marketing order or other designations, the board said.

The permit now costs $150 and can be renewed starting Sunday.

The ABC also issues a specialty retailer of electronic nicotine delivery system permit, which authorized the sale “of any allowable e-liquids, electronic nicotine delivery systems, and vapor-based alternative nicotine products that meet the requirements of state and federal law.”

The annual fee for that permit is $1,000, and such locations can only sell products to those 21 years old and older.

Those stores also must have signs indicating the age restriction.

The board said it will email all permit holders with this information.