New polling shared with Yellowhammer News shows a strong desire to crack down on illegal vapes being distributed in Alabama.
In a survey of 1,500 likely general election voters in Alabama conducted Cygnal, 56% of likely voters support passing a law to create a Premarket Tobacco Product Application (PMTA) directory that would require manufacturers of vapor products to confirm their status. This would bolster enforcement capabilities against illegal disposable vapes.
The poll also revealed that 55% of likely voters did not know illegal disposable vapes products, primarily coming from China, are still available in the U.S. due to lack of enforcement.
When it comes to China in general, 66% of Alabama voters have an unfavorable opinion of the communist country. Another thing voters don’t like are the vape shops themselves, whereby 51% have an unfavorable opinion.
State Rep. Barbara Drummond (D-Mobile) put forward a bill last session that would require the Alabama Department of Revenue to build and maintain a directory of businesses that sell and manufacture vape cartridges, e-liquids and any alternative nicotine product in Alabama.
In addition to creating a directory, Drummond’s bill would prevent vape manufactures and retailers from using advertising techniques designed to appeal to young people, such as incorporating characters from comic books in ad campaigns.
The survey also made clear that illegal vaping is only one of many crimes that has Alabamians concerned. According to the poll, 53% said they believe crime overall has been increasing near them over the past few years.
Yaffee is a contributing writer to Yellowhammer News and hosts “The Yaffee Program” weekdays 9-11 a.m. on WVNN. You can follow him on Twitter @Yaffee
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