New Report Reveals Vermont Must Focus on Policies To Prevent Youth Initiation of Tobacco Products to Reduce Death and Disease from Tobacco Use

A new report from the American Lung Association urges Vermont lawmakers to focus on ending the sale of all flavored tobacco products, including menthol cigarettes to reduce the overwhelming human and financial burden 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, Vermont received the following grades: 

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

“In addition to grading Vermont’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 Vermont, we are seeing tobacco industry lobbyists working to stop or weaken proven tobacco control policies. 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 Lance Boucher at the American Lung Association in Vermont. “In 2025, policymakers in Vermont must work on passing policies that soon lad to a comprehensive policy ending the sale of all flavored tobacco products, including menthol cigarettes.”

Ending the sale of all flavored tobacco products, including menthol cigarettes will reduce tobacco-caused disparities and save lives as the most recent Surgeon General’s report on tobacco released in November 2024 makes clear. Of the over 85% of kids who use flavored e-cigarettes, use flavored products. Menthol cigarettes continue to be the major cause of tobacco-related death and disease in Black communities, with over 80% of Black individuals who smoke using them. Ending the sale of all flavored tobacco products, including menthol cigarettes, will not only reduce youth tobacco use but will address health disparities.

This session lawmakers in Vermont should work to pass legislation that will work with and support a comprehensive flavors policy, including strengthening tobacco licensure by increasing the fees for a tobacco license, increasing retailer penalties for selling to youth under the age of 21, and removing ineffective purchase, youth and possession (PUP) penalties on youth.”  A solid retail licensure system holds retailers and the tobacco industry accountable and lays the framework needed for moving forward with ending the sale of flavored tobacco products.  

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 Trek Across Maine is coming up on June 13th. Learn more at TrekAcrossMaine.org

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.