A new vaping law just enacted in Alabama means some big changes for retail outlets and vape-ers, alike. The law is drawing criticism from both groups.
This wide-ranging law, which was passed by the legislature earlier this year, goes into effect this week. Tobacco shops will no longer be able to advertise vaping as a healthy alternative to smoking tobacco products.
Vapor products are considered to be any “non-lighted, non-combustible product that employs a mechanical heating element, battery, or electronic circuit regardless of the shape or size that can be used to produce vapor from nicotine in a solution”.
For several years now, vaping has been used by many smokers to help them stop smoking cigarettes. It has been a largely unregulated industry, until now.
The new law prohibits opening a vape shop within 1-thousand feet of a school, church, or daycare center. It also limits advertising on billboards to include only three vaping flavors: tobacco, mint and menthol.
Fruit-flavored vaping liquids have become popular, but critics maintain that the flavors encourage younger children to “smoke” the liquid. Tobacco shops will no longer be able to advertise any fruity flavors. One of the law’s sponsors, Rep. Barbara Drummond says that she was shocked to see a 12-year old vaping in Sunday School using a vape-er that she thought was a flash drive.
Purchase, use or possession of alternative nicotine products is prohibited by law by persons under age 19. Currently, the only smoke-free restrictions for e-cigarette use are by healthcare providers while providing patient care, and on licensed daycare facilities.
Alabama was one of 3 states that previously did not regulate vaping.
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