The Petroleum and Convenience Marketers of Alabama responded Thursday to the vote held on Tuesday by the Montgomery City Council, which approved a resolution halting the city from issuing new permits for convenience stores and gas stations for a 90–day period. The resolution was touted by those voting in favor as a way of preventing minors from accessing specific products, specifically vape products. 

“The convenience store compliance track record is far, far better at selling age–restricted products than many other businesses,” said Bart Fletcher, president of P&CMA. “The most recently available data from the Center for Disease Control pinpoints the real source of the problem, and it isn’t convenience stores.“

Specifically, the 2021 CDC Youth Risk Behavior Survey, the latest data available, surveys high-schoolers on risky behaviors (smoking, vaping, drinking, bullying at school, etc..). For those who indicated they had vaped in the last 30–days, the question was, “How did you usually get your electronic vapor products (EVPs)?” 

Among the 18.0 percent of students who currently use EVPs, the multiple choice answer results showed that: 

• “bought them in a vape shop or tobacco shop” – 12.4 percent
• “bought them myself in a convenience store or gas station” – 6.8 percent
• “got or bought them from a friend, family member or someone else” – 54.1 percent

See the full report here.

“Limiting the growth of new convenience stores doesn’t address the root problem,” said Rex Jones, chair of the P&CMA Board of Directors. “It only slows economic growth, kills new jobs and limits the availability of products vital to everyday life for Montgomery’s citizens.” 

“Recently passed legislation, HB8, establishes new license requirements for vape retailers, increases the fines for sales to minors, requires the state Department of Education to begin in–school programs highlighting the dangers of vaping and provides revenue for additional enforcement. These provisions will do much more to address the problem than stifling the growth of local businesses,” Fletcher said. 

With membership that includes companies owning, operating and/or supplying more than 3,250 convenience stores throughout Alabama, and employing almost 60,000 people across the state, P&CMA says they play a vital role in supporting the state’s energy infrastructure and small business community. P&CMA members include both major–branded and independent petroleum marketers, as well as operators of locally owned convenience stores.