An Alabama state senator is making a renewed push to ban vaping in public places by bringing e-cigarettes under the same law that currently prohibits smoking. Senator Gerald Allen (R-Tuscaloosa) has filed Senate Bill 9, which aims to amend the Alabama Clean Indoor Air Act of 2003.
The bill proposes adding "the use of an electronic nicotine delivery system" to the legal definition of smoking. If passed, this would prohibit vaping in most enclosed public spaces across the state, including retail stores, restaurants, government buildings, shopping malls, hospitals, and other workplaces. Violators could face a $25 fine, the same penalty currently in place for smoking violations.
Sen. Allen emphasized the need for the legislation, stating, "It’s a very serious issue, and that’s why I have this important bill." Public health officials support the measure, citing concerns over secondhand aerosol. A study from the National Library of Medicine noted that indoor vaping can expose non-users to nicotine and other potentially harmful substances. A similar bill sponsored by Allen did not pass in the previous session. The new legislation also seeks to rename the law the "Vivian Davis Figures Clean Indoor Air Act" to honor the original sponsor of the smoking ban. The legislative session begins January 13.
