New Report: Georgia Again Gets Failing Grades for Tobacco Control; Now Must Increase Efforts Amid Federal Cuts

According to the American Lung Association’s 24th annual “State of Tobacco Control” report, released today, Georgia’s grades show the state must step up efforts to reduce tobacco use to protect communities. Georgia’s action on tobacco control and prevention is especially critical due to the dramatic rollback of federal tobacco prevention efforts in 2025. 

Tobacco use remains the nation’s leading cause of preventable death and disease, claiming the lives of 11,690 Georgians each year.  Georgia continues to lag behind the rest of the country in policy efforts to prevent and reduce tobacco use. The state received all failing grades in this year’s report.

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 2026 report, Georgia received the following grades: 

1. Funding for State Tobacco Prevention Programs – Grade F
2. Level of State Tobacco Taxes – Grade F
3. Strength of Smokefree Workplace Laws – Grade F
4. Coverage and Access to Services to Quit Tobacco – Grade F
5. Ending the Sale of All Flavored Tobacco Products – Grade F 

In 2025, the tobacco control and prevention landscape fundamentally changed when the administration took a series of actions that weakened enforcement and jeopardized public health efforts across the country. These included the virtual elimination of the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s (CDC) Office on Smoking and Health, major staffing cuts to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration’s (FDA) Center for Tobacco Products and delaying Congressionally appropriated funding for nearly six months. As a result, tobacco control and Quitline programs in all 50 states and the District of Columbia were left at risk of shutting down, with some states drastically reducing lifesaving services. 

“It is devastating to see the federal government largely abandon its tobacco control efforts, making it more important than ever for state lawmakers to step up. ,” said Danna Thompson, director of advocacy at the American Lung Association in Georgia. “Georgia lawmakers need to ramp up tobacco prevention efforts even more to protect residents from disease and addiction caused by tobacco use. In 2026, the Georgia legislature must focus on increasing the tax on all tobacco products; ensuring the state covers all FDA-approved quit smoking treatments and services; and increasing funding for tobacco prevention and quit smoking programs.”

Increasing taxes on all tobacco products, including e-cigarettes, is one of the most effective ways to reduce tobacco use, especially among youth. Multiple studies have shown that every 10% increase in the price of cigarettes reduces consumption by about 4% among adults and about 7% among youth. Georgia should increase its tax on cigarettes by $1.50 per pack and make the tax on other tobacco products equal to the cigarette tax.

Federal Grades Overview
The 2026 “State of Tobacco Control” report grades the federal government in five areas: 

• Federal Government Regulation of Tobacco Products – Grade D
• 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: I*
• Federal Funding for Tobacco Prevention and Control – Grade: B

*The federal government gets an I for Incomplete in this category due to data not being able to be obtained about the duration, reach and frequency of the Real Cost campaign in 2025.

In the “State of Tobacco Control” report, the American Lung Association calls on the federal government to fully restore critical tobacco control programs, including CDC’s Office on Smoking and Health. Federal leadership is essential. In the current absence of federal leadership, the organization is calling on state legislatures to advance strong, fact-based tobacco control policies that protect communities and reduce tobacco use. 

To learn more about this year’s “State of Tobacco Control” grades and take action, visit Lung.org/sotc.

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.