Alabama Highlights

Tobacco use remains a leading cause of preventable death and disease in the United States and in Alabama. To address this enormous toll, the American Lung Association calls for the following actions to be taken by Alabama's elected officials:

It was an active year for tobacco prevention and control issues in the Alabama legislature in 2023. The Lung Association and other public health partners were engaged in educating on the best practices for updating provisions for state licensing, enforcement, and compliance of tobacco products, including e-cigarettes. This includes removing youth penalties and promoting policies that effectively reduced youth tobacco and nicotine use. House Bill 319 and Senate Bill 271, introduced by Representative Drummond and Senator Gudger respectively, was legislation that, unfortunately, did not appropriately hold tobacco retailers accountable and would have enacted harsher penalties on youth. This legislation failed to pass.

Local public health coalitions and communities continue to be limited in their ability to focus on tobacco control issues, such as implementing strong smokefree ordinances. Tobacco control partners continue to be engaged with community education on the dangers of tobacco use and secondhand smoke across Alabama. The Lung Association plays a prominent role by offering technical assistance on the best practices of tobacco prevention and control. The Alabama Department of Public Health continues to affect social norm change around tobacco use, address the marketing of tobacco products to youth, and promote policies that eliminate exposure to secondhand smoke through the Tobacco Prevention and Control Program.

In 2024, the American Lung Association will advocate for the implementation of a comprehensive tobacco retail licensing program to ensure enforcement and compliance with tobacco control statutes. We will also continue to educate state legislators on best practices for tobacco control, including the benefits of a statewide smokefree law. In order to reduce the death and disease caused by tobacco use in Alabama, state legislators will need to recognize the health and economic burden of tobacco use and secondhand smoke exposure by enacting public health protections and investing in evidence-based tobacco prevention programs. The Lung Association will continue to work with partners to ensure successful passage and preservation of comprehensive local smokefree ordinances.