New Report Reveals New Jersey Must Focus on Making Casinos Smokefree and Significantly Increase Cigarette Tax to Reduce Death and Disease from Tobacco Use
American Lung Association “State of Tobacco Control” report releases New Jersey grades for tobacco control policies, outlines steps to reduce burden of tobaccoTRENTON, NJ | January 29, 2025
A new report from the American Lung Association calls on New Jersey lawmakers to focus on amending the state’s comprehensive smokefree law to finally include casinos, raise the cigarette tax on other tobacco products, allocate more funding to tobacco control efforts, and prohibit the sale of flavored tobacco products in order to reduce the overwhelming human and financial toll of tobacco use.
The 2025 “State of Tobacco Control” report evaluates state and federal policies on actions taken to eliminate tobacco use and recommends proven-effective tobacco control laws and policies to save lives.
The “State of Tobacco Control” report grades states and the District of Columbia in five areas that have been proven to prevent and reduce tobacco use and save lives. In the 2025 report, New Jersey received the following grades:
- Funding for State Tobacco Prevention Programs – Grade F
- Strength of Smokefree Workplace Laws – Grade B
- Level of State Tobacco Taxes – Grade F
- Coverage and Access to Services to Quit Tobacco – Grade C
- Ending the Sale of All Flavored Tobacco Products – Grade D
“In addition to grading New Jersey’s tobacco control policies, this year’s ‘State of Tobacco Control’ report examines the tobacco industry’s increasingly aggressive actions to addict a new generation to tobacco and hinder proven public policies to prevent and reduce tobacco use. Here in New Jersey, we are seeing tobacco industry lobbyists working to prevent smokefree casinos from becoming a reality. The tobacco industry is also introducing new products that appeal to youth like e-cigarettes that mimic smartphones, kid-friendly flavors and flavored nicotine pouches that are heavily marketed by social media influencers,” said Michael Seilback, AVP Nationwide Advocacy at the American Lung Association.
“In 2025, policymakers in New Jersey must focus on amending the state’s comprehensive smokefree law to finally include casinos, significantly increasing the cigarette tax and tax on other tobacco products and devoting funding to the state’s tobacco control efforts, and prohibiting the sale of all flavored tobacco products, including menthol cigarettes,” said Seilback.
The U.S. Surgeon General has concluded there is no safe level of exposure to secondhand smoke and the emissions from e-cigarettes are not safe. Passing a comprehensive smokefree law that eliminates smoking and e-cigarette use in all public places and workplaces, including restaurants, bars and casinos, would protect workers across the state from deadly secondhand smoke. In fact, the 2024 Surgeon General report found that nationally, 19,000 people die from secondhand smoke each year.
Federal Grades Overview
The 2025 “State of Tobacco Control” report grades the federal government in five areas:
- Federal Government Regulation of Tobacco Products – Grade C
- Federal Coverage of Quit Smoking Treatments – Grade D
- Level of Federal Tobacco Taxes – Grade F
- Federal Mass Media Campaigns to Prevent and Reduce Tobacco Use – Grade: A
- Federal Minimum Age of Sale for Tobacco Products to 21 – Grade: A
The 2025 “State of Tobacco Control” report urges Congress to provide additional funding to the FDA so they can enforce against and remove all illegal e-cigarettes the tobacco industry has introduced to the market. To learn more about this year’s “State of Tobacco Control” grades and sign the petition, visit Lung.org/sotc.
Get involved and help the mission of the American Lung Association. The Fight For Air Climb New Jersey held at the Sports Illustrated Stadium in Harrison is coming up on April 27 2025. Learn more at FightForAirClimb.org/new jersey.
State grades in “State of Tobacco Control” reflect actions taken by elected officials and do not reflect on the hard work of state tobacco control programs or advocates.
Media Resources:
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- American Lung Association logos are available here: Media | American Lung Association
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The American Lung Association is the leading organization working to save lives by improving lung health and preventing lung disease through education, advocacy and research. The work of the American Lung Association is focused on four strategic imperatives: to defeat lung cancer; to champion clean air for all; to improve the quality of life for those with lung disease and their families; and to create a tobacco-free future. For more information about the American Lung Association, which has a 4-star rating from Charity Navigator and is a Platinum-Level GuideStar Member, call 1-800-LUNGUSA (1-800-586-4872) or visit: Lung.org. To support the work of the American Lung Association, find a local event at Lung.org/events.
For more information, contact:
Valerie Gleason
717-971-1123
[email protected]
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