The American Lung Association State of Tobacco Control: 2007 report was released today. Georgia scored grades of “F” in cigarette excise tax, "F" in tobacco prevention and control spending, "B" in smoke free air, and ”D"  for youth access to tobacco.

Raising Georgia’s cigarette tax and adequately funding tobacco prevention programs would improve our grades. Georgia’s cigarette tax is extremely low at 37¢. Over half of our states  have cigarette tax rates of $1.00 or higher. Georgia continues to fund tobacco use prevention programs at the very lowest levels, despite receiving about $150M annually from the Master Settlement Agreement with US tobacco companies.

Please take a moment to contact your state elected officials and ask them to increase Georgia's cigarette tax and adequately fund state tobacco use prevention efforts in the 2008 session of the Georgia Legislature.