Alabama Senate Passes Bill SB-9 to Ban Vaping in Public Places

The Alabama Senate voted 31-1 on Thursday to ban vaping in public spaces, moving to close a decades-old loophole in the state’s clean air laws. Sponsored by Sen. Gerald Allen (R-Cottondale), SB 9 amends the 2003 Alabama Clean Indoor Air Act to explicitly categorize “electronic nicotine delivery systems” as smoking. If enacted, vaping will become illegal in restaurants, government buildings, and hospitals, punishable by a $25 fine.

Key Takeaways

Senate Vote: The bill passed 31-1 and now moves to the House for consideration.
Legal Mechanism: SB 9 adds vaping to the legal definition of “smoking,” applying existing bans to e-cigarettes.
Penalty: Violators caught vaping in restricted areas face a $25 fine.
Renaming: The legislation renames the 2003 law the “Vivian Davis Figures Clean Indoor Air Act.”
Exceptions: Vaping will remain legal in bars, lounges, and retail tobacco stores.

Closing the “Football Game” Loophole

This legislation directly addresses an enforcement gap discovered by Sen. Allen at a junior high football game. After confronting a spectator for vaping, Allen realized the 2003 law—written before the rise of e-cigarettes—technically permitted the behavior. By updating the legal definition, the state aims to standardize enforcement, empowering security guards and venue managers to eject vapers from spaces where combustible tobacco is already prohibited. Allen argues that protecting public health requires treating vaping with the same severity as cigarettes, citing concerns over heart and lung damage.

Comparison Matrix: Current vs. Proposed Law

The bill aligns vaping regulations with existing smoking prohibitions.

Feature	Current Law (2003 Act)	Proposed Law (SB 9)
Definition of Smoking	Combustible tobacco only	Includes “Electronic Nicotine Delivery Systems”
Public Vaping	Legal in most spaces	Illegal (Restaurants, Malls, Gov Buildings)
Enforcement	Venue discretion	State law ($25 Fine)

Where can I still vape in Alabama?

If SB 9 becomes law, vaping will be restricted to private residences, automobiles, and specific exemptions like bars, lounges, and retail tobacco stores. Most indoor public spaces will be off-limits.

Read more: Will Alabama Ban Indoor Vaping? SB-9 Bill Explained
News source: Vaping in public could soon be illegal in Alabama

Author
Recent Posts

Matthew Ma

Marketing at Ecigator

With over a decade of experience in the e-cigarette industry, Matthew Ma is a seasoned expert in both the manufacturing and usage aspects of vaping products. His extensive background has provided him with a deep understanding of the intricacies and evolving dynamics of e-cigarettes.