Abstract
IntroductionIncreasing tobacco excise taxes and implementing comprehensive smoke-free laws are two of the most effective population-level strategies to reduce tobacco use, prevent tobacco use initiation, and protect nonsmokers from secondhand smoke. We examined state laws related to smoke-free buildings and to cigarette excise taxes from 2000 through 2014 to see how implementation of these laws from 2000 through 2009 differs from implementation in more recent years (2010–2014).MethodsWe used legislative data from LexisNexis, an online legal research database, to examine changes in statewide smoke-free laws and cigarette excise taxes in effect from January 1, 2000, through December 31, 2014. A comprehensive smoke-free law was defined as a statewide law prohibiting smoking in all indoor areas of private work sites, restaurants, and bars.ResultsFrom 2000 through 2009, 21 states and the District of Columbia implemented comprehensive smoke-free laws prohibiting smoking in work sites, restaurants, and bars. In 2010, 4 states implemented comprehensive smoke-free laws. The last state to implement a comprehensive smoke-free law was North Dakota in 2012, bringing the total number to 26 states and the District of Columbia. From 2000 through 2009, 46 states and the District of Columbia implemented laws increasing their cigarette excise tax, which increased the national average state excise tax rate by $0.92. However, from 2010 through 2014, only 14 states and the District of Columbia increased their excise tax, which increased the national average state excise tax rate by $0.20.ConclusionThe recent stall in progress in enacting and implementing statewide comprehensive smoke-free laws and increasing cigarette excise taxes may undermine tobacco prevention and control efforts in the United States, undercutting efforts to reduce tobacco use, exposure to secondhand smoke, health disparities, and tobacco-related illness and death.
Highlights
Increasing tobacco excise taxes and implementing comprehensive smoke-free laws are two of the most effective population-level strategies to reduce tobacco use, prevent tobacco use initiation, and protect nonsmokers from secondhand smoke
From 2000 through 2009, 21 states and the District of Columbia implemented comprehensive smoke-free laws prohibiting smoking in work sites, restaurants, and bars
Data were obtained from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s (CDC’s) State Tobacco Activities Tracking and Evaluation (STATE) system, which contains tobacco-related epidemiologic and economic data and information on state tobacco-related legislation for all 50 US states and the District of Columbia [7]
Summary
Increasing tobacco excise taxes and implementing comprehensive smoke-free laws are two of the most effective population-level strategies to reduce tobacco use, prevent tobacco use initiation, and protect nonsmokers from secondhand smoke. Smoke-free policies and tobacco taxes reduce tobacco use, increase tobacco use cessation, reduce initiation of tobacco use, and reduce tobacco-related illness and death, including deaths related to exposure to secondhand smoke [1,2]. Both population-level interventions contributed, in part, to the major public health achievement of averting 8 million premature smoking-attributable deaths from 1964 through 2014 [3]. The United States has made substantial progress in implementing comprehensive smoke-free laws and cigarette excise taxes [1]. As of December 31, 2014, the average state cigarette excise tax rate was at an all-time high of $1.54 per pack [5]
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