New Alabama Vaping Restrictions Take Effect Oct. 1

TUSCALOOSA, AL — A new Alabama law that puts vaping under the same indoor restrictions as traditional smoking will take effect Oct. 1, expanding the state's Clean Indoor Air Act to cover electronic cigarettes and other vaping devices.

The law, passed during the 2026 legislative session as Senate Bill 9, amends Alabama's definition of "smoking" to include the use of an electronic nicotine delivery system.

That means vaping will be prohibited anywhere smoking is already banned under state law.

The bill was sponsored in the Senate by state Sen. Gerald Allen, a Republican from Tuscaloosa.

"The Clean Indoor Air Act has protected Alabamians and helped keep our air clean for decades," Allen told Patch. "As technology evolves, Alabama’s laws must evolve as well. Beginning Oct. 1, a new law will extend these protections in public places to address secondhand emissions from Electronic Nicotine Delivery Systems."

The legislation also renames the state's law the Alabama Vivian Davis Figures and Barbara Drummond Clean Indoor Air Act.Figures and Drummond are prominent Democratic lawmakers from Mobile who have worked together on various legislative, community, and public health initiatives.

Under the law, the restrictions apply to electronic cigarettes, vape pens and other electronic nicotine delivery systems.

Alabama Gov. Kay Ivey's office said the restriction applies regardless of whether the liquid used in the device contains nicotine, THC or another substance.

The state's Clean Indoor Air Act covers most enclosed areas open to the public, including hospitals, libraries, courtrooms, museums, restaurants, educational facilities, shopping malls, government buildings, sports and recreational facilities, workplaces, airports, banks, retail stores and service establishments. It also applies to public meetings. Private residences are not considered public places under the law.

The change does not eliminate existing exceptions in Alabama's indoor smoking law.

State law currently exempts bars and lounges, retail tobacco stores and tobacco businesses, privately hired limousines and certain hotel and motel rooms. The law also allows designated smoking areas under certain circumstances.

Ivey signed SB9 into law in April as part of a group of health-related bills approved during the 2026 legislative session.

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