HB119 Alabama 2020 Session

Summary

Primary Sponsor

Barbara DrummondRepresentative

Democrat

Session

Regular Session 2020

Title

Nicotine, raise the age to buy, possess, or use nicotine products to 21, impose restrictions on marketing of certain nicotine products, Secs. 13A-12-3, 13A-12-3.1, 28-11-1, 28-11-3, 28-11-4, 28-11-5, 28-11-6.1, 28-11-6.2, 28-11-11, 28-11-13, 28-11-14, 28-11-15, 28-11-16, 28-11-18 am'd.

Summary

HB 119 would raise the legal age to 21 for buying, possessing, or using nicotine products and tighten marketing, vending, and enforcement to reduce youth access in Alabama.

What This Bill Does

If passed, it would raise the minimum age for legal possession, transportation, and purchase of tobacco products, electronic nicotine delivery systems, and alternative nicotine products from 19 to 21. It would restrict advertising and promotion in certain media and ban marketing tactics that target or appeal to children, such as candy-like flavors or imagery and child-oriented characters. Retailers would be required to post prominent signs at points of sale about age limits and health risks, and vending machine sales would be limited to 21+ access. The bill also creates enforcement mechanisms, penalties for violations, and annual compliance reporting, along with packaging and labeling requirements and restrictions on sponsorships and advertising at events.

Who It Affects

• Minors under age 21 would be prohibited from purchasing, possessing, or using nicotine products, and could face penalties if rules are broken; under certain enforcement actions, minors may participate in purchase attempts under parental consent and supervision.
• Retailers, manufacturers, and advertisers of tobacco, electronic nicotine delivery systems, or alternative nicotine products would need to verify customers' ages, follow advertising restrictions (including prohibitions on candy-like branding and certain media placements), place required signs, limit vending machine access to 21+, comply with packaging and labeling rules, and face fines or other penalties for violations.

Key Provisions

• Raises the minimum age for legal possession, transportation, and purchase of tobacco, electronic nicotine delivery systems, and alternative nicotine products from 19 to 21.
• Prohibits advertising or promotion of these products in certain print or electronic media and bans sponsorships or advertising at events, plus prohibits targeting children in marketing.
• Prohibits marketing using candy-like flavors or imagery, and branding that imitates food brands or characters that appeal to minors.
• Requires retailers selling electronic nicotine delivery systems to display prominent signs near the point of sale about the age limit (21), potential transfer of harmful metals, and nicotine content.
• Prohibits sale of alternative nicotine products or electronic nicotine delivery systems in vending machines unless entry is restricted to those 21 and older.
• Enforcement provisions include penalties for selling to a minor (fines of $100-$300 and up to 30 days in jail) and allows inspections with minors under supervision and parental consent.
• Imposes packaging and labeling requirements, including child-resistant packaging for liquid nicotine containers and warning signs about nicotine and metals exposure.
• Requires annual reporting by the board on compliance, enforcement, and access to these products by minors, and directs various compliance and educational activities.

AI-generated summary using openai/gpt-5-nano on Feb 22, 2026. May contain errors — refer to the official bill text for accuracy.

Subjects

Nicotine