Kentucky to Require Tobacco and Vape Retailers to Be Licensed Starting January 2026

Key Points

• All retailers selling tobacco, nicotine, and vapor products must be licensed by Jan. 1, 2026.
• Licensing is managed through the Kentucky ABC’s Online Licensing Portal.
• Key enforcement measures include:Routine and unannounced compliance checks to prevent sales to minors;Increased fines, license revocation, and criminal penalties for violations;Creation of a new enforcement team to investigate consumer complaints.
• A portion of collected fines will fund youth vaping prevention programs.

2Firsts, November 17, 2025 —  According to American Broadcasting Company (ABC),the Kentucky Public Protection Cabinet has announced that starting January 1, 2026, all businesses in the Commonwealth selling tobacco, nicotine, or vapor products must obtain a retail license from the Kentucky Department of Alcoholic Beverage Control (ABC).

“We heard from parents, teachers, community members and, importantly, young advocates that harmful nicotine and vapor products have been easily accessible to minors, leading to a rise in teen vaping,” said Secretary Ray Perry. “This initiative gives Team Kentucky the enforcement power needed to better protect our youth from harmful products.”

Signed into law on March 24, 2025, Senate Bill 100 requires all tobacco, nicotine, and vapor retailers to obtain an annual license through ABC and strengthens enforcement measures, including:

Routine and unannounced compliance checks to ensure retailers are not selling to minors or selling illegal products;

Increased fines and penalties, including possible loss of license and criminal prosecution for unlicensed sales;

Establishment of a new enforcement team to handle consumer complaints.

According to the Kentucky Public Protection Cabinet, part of the collected fines will support youth vaping prevention efforts.

The state urges all businesses selling such products to apply as soon as possible through ABC’s Online Licensing Portal, launched last week, to ensure sufficient processing time before the deadline.

Image source: The source of this image is the American Broadcasting Company (ABC).