ALABAMA – A bill raising the age minimum for tobacco purchase, possession and transportation from 19 to 21 was signed into law by Governor Kay Ivey Monday. The bill, HB273, targets both tobacco and electronic nicotine products, such as vaping devices and e-cigarettes.
According to the bill, the intent of the new law is to prevent addiction and potential health problems, which can include lung cancer, coronary heart disease, stroke and more.
The Alabama Alcoholic Beverage Control Board has required all state tobacco permit holders to follow federal law by raising the minimum age for the sale of tobacco products from 18 to 21. The new Alabama law aligns the state with federal law. The former Alabama minimum age of sale was 19.
This law also regulates advertising to ensure that people below 21 are not being targeted to purchase tobacco products.
While Regional Government Relations Director for the American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network Emily Ogden is pleased to see progress in the right direction, she said that there is still more to be done.
“To be truly effective such laws should be coupled with a state retail licensing system – similar to what we have in place alcohol – to be able to set a foundation for enforcement and hold retailers that sell illegally to children and teens accountable,” Ogden said. “Retail licensure and penalties for bad actors is one of the most effective ways to reduce youth tobacco use by stopping it at the source.”
State Rep. Barbara Drummond, D-Mobile, the main sponsor of the bill told AL.com in March that there are other changes and reforms that she supports, but this is just a starting point.
“The simple truth is that these products are dangerous, highly addictive, and they are killing our young people,” Drummond said.
