The prevalence of smoking among adults varies widely across the U.S., ranging from 11.5% in Utah to 28.7% in Kentucky (data from 2005 Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System; CDC, 2006).

Note to instructor(s): State-specific prevalence estimates for California, Illinois, Kentucky, Nevada, New York, Texas, and Utah are provided for comparison purposes. Please edit this slide to include the prevalence for your state. The 2004 prevalence statistics for all states are provided at http://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/PDF/wk/mm5444.pdf.

Most of the states with the highest smoking prevalence have the lowest state taxes on cigarettes. The state cigarette excise tax varies widely by state and ranges from a high of $2.58 per pack in New Jersey to 7 cents per pack in South Carolina. The major tobacco states (KY, VA, NC, SC, GA, TN) average 26.5 cents per pack; other states average $1.09 per pack. Overall, the average is $1.00 per pack. The federal cigarette tax is 39 cents per pack.

State cigarette excise tax rates and rankings as of November 17, 2006, for several states (rank shown on left, out of 50 states and Washington, DC) (Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids, 2006):

1 New Jersey – $2.58
2 Rhode Island – $2.46
3 Washington – $2.025
4,5,6 Arizona, Maine, Michigan – $2.00
44 North Carolina – $0.35
46,47 Kentucky, Virginia – $0.30
48 Tennessee – $0.20
49 Mississippi – $0.18
50 Missouri – $0.17
51 South Carolina – $0.07

Note to instructor(s): Excise taxes for each state are available on the Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids fact sheet, which is updated regularly to reflect changes in legislation.

Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids. (2006). “State Cigarette Excise Tax Rates & Rankings.” Retrieved December 31, 2006, from http://tobaccofreekids.org/research/factsheets/pdf/0097.pdf.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). (2006). State-specific prevalence of cigarette smoking among adults and secondhand smoke rules and policies in homes and workplaces—United States, 2005. MMWR 55:1148–1151.
Slide is used with permission, Rx for Change: Clinician-Assisted Tobacco Cessation. Copyright © 1999-2007 The Regents of the University of California, University of Southern California, and Western University of Health Sciences. All rights reserved.