Tobacco Taxes

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Tobacco Control

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.

Latest Updates

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Cancer Advocates Encouraged by Efforts to Raise Cigarette Tax in Hawaii

February 12, 2025
Hawaii

Advocates with the American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network (ACS CAN) are expressing their support to increase the cigarette tax by at least $1 per pack after recent legislative action taken by committees in the Hawaii House and Senate. Raising the tax on cigarettes would not only reduce tobacco use and save lives, but it would also boost revenue to the University of Hawaii Cancer Center, which is vital for cancer research and access to life-saving treatments.

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

Governor DeWine Takes Bold Stand Against Big Tobacco

February 3, 2025
Ohio

Ohio Can and Must Do Better When It Comes to Reducing Tobacco Use

Proposed Tobacco Tax Increase Will Save Lives and Save Dollars for Mainers

January 28, 2025
Maine

In addition to lives saved, Mills' budget proposal will deliver short term revenue increases and reduce long term tobacco related healthcare costs for all Mainers.

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.

July 23, 2024

The American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network (ACS CAN) supports a comprehensive approach to tobacco control that includes significantly increasing excise taxes on all tobacco products to generate revenue, protect kids, and save lives. Significant tobacco tax increases are one of the most effective ways to prevent kids from starting to use tobacco and help adults quit.