Tobacco Taxes

Increasing tobacco taxes are proven to be an effective way to prevent children from smoking and help adults quit.

We are working in states across the country and in Congress to save more lives by passing regular and significant tax increases on all tobacco products. And this doesn't just include cigarettes, but also other dangerous products like smokeless tobacco and cigars.

State cigarette taxes range from a low of 17 cents per pack in Missouri to a high of $5.35 per pack in New York. Additionally, Puerto Rico taxes cigarettes at $5.10 per pack.

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House Passes South Dakota Senate Bill 54, Holds the Door Open for Big Tobacco

March 5, 2025

South Dakota

PIERRE, S.D. –– The passage of Senate Bill 54 on Wednesday marked a disappointing step backward for public health and cancer prevention in South Dakota as it strips voter-initiated funding for the state’s tobacco prevention and cessation fund by 60%. Those funds were overwhelmingly approved by voters in 2006 to

Patient Advocates Urge Governor Murphy to Make Stronger Commitment on Tobacco Tax

February 27, 2025

New Jersey

Earlier this week, New Jersey Governor Phil Murphy released his proposed budget for 2025. In response, the American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network (ACS CAN) New Jersey Government Relations Director Quinton Law issued the following statement, highlighting how Governor Murphy can amplify his intended impact of improving public health and addressing the deficit by increasing the cigarette tax by $1 per pack.

South Dakota Senate Bill 54 Holds the Door Open for Big Tobacco

February 24, 2025

South Dakota

PIERRE, S.D. –- The passage of Senate Bill 54 on Thursday marked a disappointing step backward for public health and cancer prevention in South Dakota. If enacted, it would strip voter-initiated funding for the state’s tobacco prevention and cessation fund by 60%. Those funds were overwhelmingly approved by voters in

Advocates Urge Lawmakers to Take Action to Reduce Tobacco Use

February 12, 2025

Indiana

Advocates Gathered at the Statehouse Today to Say Indiana Can and Must Do Better to Reduce the Burden of Tobacco on Hoosiers

Tobacco Taxes Resources

State Tobacco Tax Increases: Explanations and Sources for Projections of New Revenues & Benefits

January 8, 2025

The economic model developed jointly by the Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids (TFK), the American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network (ACS CAN), and Economics for Health (housed at the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health) projects the increase in state revenues, public health benefits, and health care cost savings resulting from increases in state cigarette tax rates. The projections are updated annually. Calculations are based on economic modeling by Frank Chaloupka, Ph.D., and John Tauras, Ph.D., at the Institute for Health Research and Policy at the University of Illinois at Chicago, Jidong Huang, Ph.D., at Georgia State University, and Michael Pesko, Ph.D., at the University of Missouri.

Effective Policies Known to Prevent Tobacco Use and Address Tobacco-Related Disparities

July 23, 2024

Tobacco use has been found to be one of the primary drivers of cancer-related health disparities because its use disproportionately impacts people based on race, ethnicity, sexual orientation, gender identity, disability status, mental health, income level, education level, and geographic location. Achieving health equity relies heavily on eliminating tobacco use. ACS CAN is pursuing fact-based tobacco control policies at the local, state and federal levels that aim to reduce disparities and improve health outcomes for everyone.

Tobacco Excise Tax Increases: Save Lives. Reduce Health Care Costs. Generate Revenue.