Regional Analysis
Region 1: Maine, Vermont, New Hampshire, Massachusetts, Rhode Island, Connecticut
New England continues to lead the country with the strongest smokefree air laws of any region. All New England states, with the exception of New Hampshire, have comprehensive smokefree air laws. In 2005, Vermont joined the other New England Smokefree States by strengthening its smokefree air law to include bars and private clubs. Maine increased its cigarette tax to $2.00 per pack. New Hampshire also increased its cigarette tax to $0.80 per pack. The other New England states all have cigarette excise taxes of $1.00 or higher, with Rhode Island leading the country at $2.46 per pack. Maine leads the entire country with A’s in every category. The result has been significant decreases in adult and youth smoking rates.
Region 1 average cigarette tax: $1.58.
Region 2: New York and New Jersey
The average cigarette tax in this region is the highest in the country at $1.71 per pack. New Jersey leads the region at $2.40 per pack but New York City has the highest combined state and city tax in the country at $3.00 per pack. In New York City, the combination of a high tax, smoking cessation programs, and a comprehensive smokefree air law led to a total of 180,000 fewer smokers in 2003 and 2004, representing a 15 percent decline over two years.1 Both New Jersey and Puerto Rico are working on following New York’s lead by enacting strong smokefree air policies.
New Jersey passed the strongest college smokefree air law in the country. New Jersey prohibits smoking in dormitories at both private and public colleges.
Region 2 average cigarette tax: $1.71.
- New Jersey restricted sales of tobacco products over the phone, through the mail and over the Internet.
Region 3: Pennsylvania, Delaware, Maryland, District of Columbia, West Virginia and Virginia
The Mid-Atlantic region saw gradual progress in cigarette taxes, Internet sales restrictions and coverage of smoking cessation products. In 2005, a second scheduled increase in Virginia’s cigarette tax brought the tax to $0.30 per pack. Pennsylvania continues to lead the region with a $1.35 per pack cigarette tax. Maryland enacted a law requiring private insurance companies to provide prescription drug coverage for certain smoking cessation treatments. Once again, Delaware leads the region in tobacco prevention funding by continuing to fund its program above the minimum level recommended by the CDC.
Region 3 average cigarette tax: $0.79.
- Virginia’s cigarette tax increased from $0.20 to $0.30 per pack.
- Maryland enacted legislation requiring private insurance companies to provide prescription coverage for certain smoking cessation treatments.
- Maryland banned the delivery of cigarettes to individual consumers.
- Delaware, for the third consecutive year, funded its tobacco prevention program above the minimum level recommended by the CDC.
Regional Analysis continued... |
