Mobile retailers selling tobacco, vape, or nicotine products must hold a city business license and comply with Alabama's statewide tobacco-21 law restricting sales to anyone under 21 years old.
Tobacco retailers in Mobile operate under a city business license issued by the Revenue Department, plus state ATC tobacco-stamp requirements. Alabama Code Section 28-11-13 sets the minimum purchase age at 21 statewide, preempting any local age variance. Retailers must verify ID for buyers appearing under 30, post age-restriction signage, and keep tobacco products behind counters. Vape shops face the same licensing path. Repeat sales-to-minor violations can trigger license suspension by the city and ATC penalties on the state side.
Selling tobacco or vape products to anyone under 21 risks fines, ATC enforcement action, and revocation of the city business license.
See how Mobile's tobacco retail license rules stack up against other locations.
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