Regional Analysis1
Region 1: Maine, Vermont, New Hampshire, Massachusetts, Rhode Island, Connecticut
Historically, New England states have been leaders in tobacco control. Massachusetts was one of the first states to fund a comprehensive tobacco prevention program and Maine was one of the first states to raise its tax to $1.00. At the local level, New England cities have been in the forefront of smokefree air ordinance activity with hundreds of local communities going smokefree. In 2003, the region saw a flurry of tobacco control activity, particularly in terms of cigarette taxes and smokefree air laws. A regional effort to raise taxes begun in 2000 has now succeeded in five of the six states. A comprehensive smokefree-air law in Delaware caused a domino effect in the Northeastern U.S., leading to new laws in New York City, New York State, Connecticut and Maine. In late December the Massachusetts legislature passed a comprehensive smokefree air law. It will be sent to Governor Romney for signature in early January. Similar legislation was also introduced in Rhode Island and Vermont, and is likely to pass in 2004 in these states.
Region 1 average cigarette tax: $1.24.
Region 2: New York and New Jersey
New York State and New York City have led the way on strong smokefree workplace policies, both passing comprehensive laws banning smoking in all workplaces including restaurants and bars. Unfortunately, attempts to match New York’s smokefree air law have failed in New Jersey. There seems to be a bidding war between these two neighbors over cigarette taxes. New Jersey raised its tax to $2.05 per pack, ahead of New York State’s $1.50. However, New York City levies an additional $1.50, for a total of $3.00, $0.95 above the rate across the Hudson River. Region 2 now leads the nation with the highest cigarette tax average at $1.78.
Region 2 average cigarette tax: $1.78.
- New Jersey passed the highest cigarette tax in the country at $2.05 per pack. Unfortunately, at the same time, the state slashed its tobacco prevention funding from $30 million to $20 million for fiscal year 2004.
Region 3: Pennsylvania, Delaware, Maryland, District of Columbia, West Virginia and Virginia
The Mid-Atlantic is a very diverse region from a tobacco control perspective and exemplifies the large disparities in state tobacco control policies. Richmond, Virginia is now the headquarters of Philip Morris, the world’s largest tobacco manufacturer, after it moved from New York City. Virginia has the lowest cigarette tax in the country at $0.025 and has very few smokefree air protections. Virginia has, however, made a recent commitment to tobacco control by funding its Tobacco Settlement Foundation tobacco prevention programs.
There are a number of tobacco control leaders in this region. Maryland, the District of Columbia and Pennsylvania all have $1.00 cigarette taxes. Delaware has one of the strongest smokefree air laws in the nation, more than doubled its cigarette tax in 2003 and increased its spending on tobacco control to above the CDC-recommended minimum. Maryland has strong local smokefree ordinances and is working toward a statewide ban. West Virginia has managed to raise its tax and passed a bill restricting the purchase of tobacco on the Internet.
Region 3 average cigarette tax: $0.69.
- Delaware, which led the nation by passing a comprehensive smokefree workplace law in 2002, defeated numerous legislative attempts to weaken the law. Montgomery County, MD, passed a local ordinance banning smoking in all workplaces.
- West Virginia and Delaware both more than doubled their taxes to $0.55 per pack.
- Unfortunately, Maryland, one of the few states with a well-funded tobacco control program, saw its funding slashed from $30 million to $15.2 million for fiscal year 2004.
Regional Analysis continued... |
