The grades on tobacco control are out, but who exactly should be getting an “F” depends on who you’re asking.
The American Lung Association (ALA) released its 21st annual State of Tobacco Control report where it ranks the “best” and “worst” US states on tobacco control policies.
California, Maine, Massachusetts, and the District of Columbia were ALA’s favorites, while Alabama, Mississippi, North Carolina, and Texas were at the bottom of the pile.
States were graded in five areas: strength of smokefree workplace laws; ending the sale of all flavored tobacco products; funding for state tobacco prevention programs; level of state tobacco taxes; and coverage and access to services to quit tobacco.
While California, Maine, Massachusetts, and the District of Columbia received mostly As and Bs (with one D and a few Fs thrown in the mix), Alabama, Mississippi, North Carolina, and Texas scored Fs in all five categories. Georgia, Virginia and West Virginia received four Fs and one D. No states received all A grades.
The federal government did not do too well on the grading scale, either, earning a C for regulation of tobacco products; a D for coverage of quit smoking treatments; an F for federal tobacco taxes; an A for mass media campaigns to prevent and reduce tobacco use; and an “Incomplete” for minimum age of sale for tobacco products to 21.
The federal government may need to question its F for tobacco taxes, though, as it has been 14 years since Congress last increased federal cigarette taxes. While other tobacco products are subject to different taxes, the federal cigarette tax is still US$1.01 per pack. Additionally, no state raised its cigarette taxes in 2022.