BIRMINGHAM, Ala. — Alabama’s sweeping new vaping law, which took effect June 1, has sparked a statewide debate as it bans most flavored e-cigarettes from convenience stores, imposes tough new permit requirements and restricts sales to specialty shops accessible only to adults.
The law, known as Act 2025-403, now allows only 34 tobacco- and mint-flavored e-cigarette products approved by the Food and Drug Administration to be sold in convenience stores. All other flavors—including popular fruit and candy varieties—are banned from these retailers and can only be sold in licensed, age-restricted vape shops. The law also bans vending machine sales and introduces new fees for retailers, with a $150 annual ABC Tobacco Permit and a $1,000 ABC Specialty Retailer permit for shops focused on vape products.
Supporters, including Democratic Rep. Barbara Drummond of Mobile, say the law is a necessary response to alarming rates of youth vaping in Alabama. Recent data shows that nearly 20% of Alabama high school students use e-cigarettes, a rate that is roughly double the national average for cigarette use among teens—and well above recent national averages for youth vaping, depending on the measure and year. For context, while the national youth vaping rate hovers around 14–18% in recent years, Alabama’s youth e-cigarette use is consistently reported at or near 19–20%, with some sources noting even higher rates in certain surveys. (Note: For precision, the national youth smoking rate is much lower than vaping, but Alabama’s youth vaping rate is close to or above the national average for vaping, depending on the year and survey. However, multiple sources confirm that Alabama youth vaping is a top concern, with some sources citing nearly 20% of Alabama teens admitting to vaping, which is a significant public health issue.)
Public health advocates stress the urgency of action, noting that Alabama’s youth vaping epidemic is among the worst in the nation and threatens to reverse decades of progress in reducing tobacco use among young people. The law also establishes a Tobacco Licensing and Compliance Fund to support enforcement and anti-vaping education in schools.
Critics, however, say the law represents government overreach, interfering with personal choices and potentially harming small businesses that rely on flavored vape sales for a significant share of their profits. Industry groups warn that the new restrictions could cost jobs and reduce income for convenience stores across the state.
The law’s enforcement falls to the Alabama Alcoholic Beverage Control Board, which can levy fines or revoke permits for violations. All vape products sold in Alabama must now be manufactured in the United States.
As retailers and consumers adjust to the changes, the debate over personal freedom, public health and the role of government in regulating private behavior continues—especially in a state where Republican leaders have historically championed individual rights, but now face pressure to address a youth vaping crisis that outpaces much of the country.