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The American Lung Association’s 2004 State of Tobacco Control report has been released.  This national report card analyzes federal and state tobacco control laws in four key areas - tobacco program funding, cigarette excise taxes, youth access to tobacco, and smokefree air. Florida scored grades of an "F" in funding tobacco prevention and control programs,  an "F"  for its cigarette excise tax, and a "D" in youth access to tobacco. In a bright spot, the state earned a “B” in smokefree air.

This report should be a wake-up call to the Florida Legislature and Governor about the status of tobacco control and prevention in the state.  Florida once had one of the nation’s most successful tobacco prevention programs and reduced high school smoking by 35 percent and middle school smoking by 50 percent in five years.  In 1999, the Legislature allocated $70 million to fund the program in its first full year; however, state leaders have regularly cut funding to a mere $1 million. In addition, our cigarette tax is extremely low and is one of the lowest in the nation at 33.9 cents a pack. Many other states have taxes well over a dollar a pack. Studies show that when the price of cigarettes goes up, youth smoking rates go down. In fact, for every 10 percent increase in price, youth smoking rates will drop by about 7 percent.

Florida must step up its tobacco prevention efforts to combat tobacco companies’ record spending in marketing deadly and addictive products to kids. To continue reducing youth smoking, Governor Bush and the Legislature must increase the state cigarette tax and restore funding for tobacco prevention. A reduction in tobacco use saves thousands of lives and produces enormous declines in state healthcare costs and other tobacco-related expenditures.

Please take a moment to send the attached letter to your Legislators and Governor Bush.  Ask them to protect Florida’s youth from the ravages of tobacco by restoring the funding for the tobacco prevention program and to significantly increase Florida’s cigarette excise tax.