As of January 1st, Kentucky has implemented a new mandate requiring all businesses selling nicotine products, including vapes and tobacco, to apply for a state license. This move, enacted under SB 100 passed in 2025, aligns Kentucky with the majority of U.S. states that already enforce similar retailer licensing.
The primary driver behind this legislation is the alarming rate of youth vaping in the state. According to the American Lung Association (ALA), nearly 20% of Kentucky high schoolers use e-cigarettes, a figure almost double the national average. Shannon Baker, Director of Advocacy for the ALA in Kentucky and Tennessee, emphasized the urgency, stating, “We have a youth use crisis in Kentucky.” Advocates believe the high numbers are partly due to businesses selling to individuals under 21.
The new licensing system empowers the Department of Alcoholic Beverage Control (ABC) to track retailer locations and conduct unannounced enforcement checks to identify those selling to minors. “The person who cuts your hair has to have a license in Kentucky, but the businesses that sell these dangerous products were not required to have a license,” Baker noted, calling the move long overdue.
However, some business owners express frustration. Rob Bowen of Nice Guy Vapors stated, “We have no violations, but yet it seems like that once we are in compliance, there is another rule that develops.” Despite industry concerns, the law is now in effect, with enforcement falling to the ABC.
- Kentucky Vape & Tobacco Retailer License Deadline Jan 1 - January 3, 2026
- Washington State Nicotine Tax to Double Vape Prices - January 3, 2026
- Pennsylvania Mandates Vape Product Registry for Shops - December 24, 2025