By: Matthew Phillips

A new law went into effect on June 1, mandating that vape retailers across Alabama comply with House Bill 8 (HB8), a new state law designed to regulate the sale and marketing of tobacco and nicotine products, with a focus on preventing underage use.

This newly signed law introduces several new requirements: Vape products must be manufactured in the United States, liquid nicotine must be sold in child-resistant packaging and all customers must be 21 years old or older to purchase any tobacco or vape products. The legislation reinforces the federal age with stricter enforcement within the state level. The bill also bans the sale of tobacco products and e-liquids through vending machines.

“Alabama is taking steps to protect our communities from impacts on public safety and the integrity of our elections,” said Governor Ivey after signing HB8. “These bills will do just that by closing a loophole in state law concerning voter ID while also further enhancing law enforcement’s ability to effectively identify illegal immigrants with criminal records.”

Galactic Vape store manager, Haley Howard, says that she and her staff have already made adjustments, while also acknowledging the effects on the business.

“So basically, we are going to have to take out our gummies from this location. So it’s not affecting us a whole lot, per say since we already align with most of the new vape rules,” said Howard.

She added that it’s still unclear how some of the brands they work with will respond to the law.

“A lot of the companies that we use, I am not sure how they will go about it. However, I do know that the tariffs are playing a huge part. So we will have to wait and see if those companies decide to start manufacturing in America,” explained Howard.

To protect children from accidental exposure to nicotine, the new law requires vape liquids to be sold in containers that are both child-resistant and leak-proof.

When asked about their compliance with the packaging rules, Howard said their store in Troy is already meeting those requirements.

“The vape bottles here are already in compliance with the new law. The juices come in child-resistant containers with strict instructions for opening, making them not as accessible to kids,” she explained. “If by chance a company sends products that aren’t properly packaged, we will take them off the shelves immediately.”

The new rules affect more than just vape shops. Convenience stores are also going to have restrictions on the flavored products they can stock. They will only be allowed to sell 34 types of e-cigarettes that are tobacco or menthol flavored, and those have to be approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA).

As Alabama businesses adjust to the new standards, retailers like Galactic Vape are focused on staying up to date with the guidelines while continuing to serve customers in a changing regulatory landscape.

“Going forward, I’m going to do my best to remove any products that are not approved,” Howard said. “Our sister store isn’t based in Alabama, like most vape stores here. So if we get in a bind and we cannot sell certain products here, we will make sure they are sent somewhere else where they can still be sold legally. That way, we stay in compliance without taking a total loss.”