A recent agreement between the state’s Alcoholic Beverage Control Board (ABC), convenience stores, and the Petroleum & Convenience Marketers of Alabama (P&CMA) has resolved a federal court case over changes to Alabama’s new vape law.
The P&CMA had filed a lawsuit against the ABC Board and other agencies after Governor Kay Ivey signed HB8 into law in May, restricting the sale of certain vape products at convenience stores. The bill aimed to prevent youth sales of flavored vape products by moving them to adult-only locations.
However, the P&CMA argued that two provisions in HB8 were unconstitutional: one restricting the sale of e-cigarettes and another prohibiting the sale of next-generation tobacco products manufactured abroad.
The agreement allows convenience stores to continue selling approved vape products and those on the FDA pending list as long as they appear in the Alabama Electronic Nicotine Delivery Systems directory. A federal court issued a joint stipulation regarding HB8, allowing vapor products with premarket tobacco product applications or pending applications to be sold at convenience stores.
Supporters of the law claim it aims to stop youth sales by moving products to adult-only locations. However, critics argue that this approach undermines its own goals, as convenience stores often have better compliance records than specialty vape shops.
Source: https://www.cspdailynews.com/tobacco/state-alabama-convenience-stores-agree-changes-new-vape-law