HB273 Alabama 2021 Session

Summary

Primary Sponsor

Barbara DrummondRepresentative

Democrat

Co-Sponsors

Napoleon BracyMerika ColemanDavid FaulknerRalph HowardDebbie Wood

Session

Regular Session 2021

Title

Nicotine, raise the age to buy, possess, or use nicotine products to 21, impose restrictions on marketing of certain nicotine products, Secs. 28-11-17.1, 28-11-20, 28-11-21 added; Secs. 13A-12-3, 13A-12-3.1, 28-11-1, 28-11-2, 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

HB273 raises the legal age to 21 for buying and possessing nicotine products in Alabama and strengthens advertising, vending, and regulatory requirements to reduce under-21 access and marketing of tobacco and nicotine products.

What This Bill Does

The bill increases the minimum age for legal possession, transportation, and purchase of tobacco products, electronic nicotine delivery systems (ENDS), and alternative nicotine products to 21. It tightens how these products can be advertised and marketed, bans certain sponsorships, requires prominent signs at the point of sale, and restricts vending machine access to adults only. It creates a certification and reporting system for e-liquid and alternative nicotine product manufacturers, including a public directory and associated fees, and expands state agency roles (Revenue, Mental Health, and law enforcement) to enforce the rules and report on compliance.

Who It Affects

• Minors under 21: would be prohibited from purchasing, possessing, or transporting tobacco, ENDS, and alternative nicotine products; enforcement includes fines and citations, with specific handling for minor violations.
• Retailers, manufacturers, and distributors of tobacco, ENDS, and alternative nicotine products: face new age-verification, signage, vending, advertising, sponsorship, and marketing restrictions; must comply with permits, compliance tests, and directory listings; subject to fines and penalties for violations.
• E-liquid and alternative nicotine product manufacturers: must certify federal premarket status or FDA marketing approval, provide documentation, and be listed in a public directory; subject to fees and potential penalties for non-compliance or unlisted products.
• State agencies (Department of Revenue, Department of Mental Health, Alabama State Law Enforcement Agency): take on expanded duties to maintain the manufacturer directory, enforce the new rules, issue penalties, and report on compliance; may use funds for enforcement and prevention programs.

Key Provisions

• Raises the minimum age for legal possession, transport, and purchase of tobacco products, ENDS, and alternative nicotine products to 21.
• Prohibits advertising or marketing of tobacco, ENDS, or alternative nicotine products in certain print or electronic media and bans sponsorships under specified conditions and locations.
• Requires retailers offering ENDS for sale to place prominent signs near the point of sale stating the age requirement and related information; imposes signage and display requirements.
• Halts sales of alternative nicotine products or ENDS in vending machines unless access is restricted to eligible individuals and prohibits self-service displays in most cases.
• Requires e-liquid and alternative nicotine product manufacturers to certify to the Department of Revenue about FDA premarket status or FDA marketing orders, and to provide documentation; creates a public directory of compliant manufacturers.
• Imposes initial and annual fees on certifying manufacturers to fund the directory; directs funds to be used for directory maintenance and enforcement, with remainder allocated to the General Fund and law enforcement/board.
• Requires child-resistant packaging for liquid nicotine containers and imposes age-verification and advertising restrictions designed to deter marketing to minors (e.g., restrictions on candy/cake-themed labeling and imagery that appeals to minors; restrictions on advertising near K-12 schools with specific age-demographic thresholds).
• Includes annual reporting by the board on compliance, enforcement actions, and access to tobacco products by minors; requires the Department of Mental Health to ensure federal compliance and pursue related grants and education programs.
• Adds enforcement mechanisms using minors for compliance checks under supervision, with procedures to protect minors and notify guardians, and sets penalties for violations.

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