New Report: Wisconsin Again Gets Failing Grades for Tobacco Control

According to the American Lung Association’s 24th annual “State of Tobacco Control” report, released today, Wisconsin’s grades show that the state must do more to reduce tobacco use to protect communities. Wisconsin’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 more than 7,850 state residents each year. Among other policies, the report urges Wisconsin lawmakers to focus on raising Wisconsin's legal age of sale for tobacco products to 21 to curb tobacco use.

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, Wisconsin received the following grades: 

1. Funding for State Tobacco Prevention Programs – Grade F
2. Level of State Tobacco Taxes – Grade D
3. Strength of Smokefree Workplace Laws – Grade B
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. Walking away from the incredible progress the nation has made on reducing tobacco use over the past 50 years is unacceptable,” said Molly Collins, director of advocacy at the American Lung Association in Wisconsin. “States need to ramp up their tobacco prevention efforts even more to protect residents from disease and addiction caused by tobacco use. In 2026, policymakers in Wisconsin must focus on raising Wisconsin's legal age of sale for tobacco products to 21; protecting the statewide smokefree air law; and creating tax parity between e-cigarettes and cigarettes.”

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. Wisconsin should increase its tax on cigarettes by at least $1.00 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 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.

Get involved and help the mission of the American Lung Association. The Fight For Air Climb in Milwaukee is coming up on March 21st, 2026. Learn more at ClimbMilwaukee.org.