Georgia Highlights
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Tobacco use remains the leading cause of preventable death and disease in the United States and in Georgia. To address this enormous toll, the American Lung Association calls for the following actions to be taken by Georgia’s elected officials:
- Increase the cigarette tax to the current average cigarette tax and equalize taxes for all tobacco products, including e-cigarettes;
- Increase funding for the Georgia tobacco prevention and control program; and
- Oppose all forms of preemption of local tobacco control authority.
Senate Bill 47 was championed by the state health department and carried by Senator Chuck Hufstetler. It added e-cigarette devices to the current Smokefree Air Act while not closing the many loopholes in the smokefree air law. The legislation did pass despite efforts by the Lung Association and other partners to make it more comprehensive.
Representative Ron Stephens sponsored House Bill 191 which would raise the tax rate on a pack of cigarettes from 37 cents to 57 cents. The current tax rate is the second lowest in the country. This bill did get a hearing in subcommittee of Ways and Means but did not pass. House Resolution 43, Costs and Effects of Smoking Joint Study Committee was once again sponsored by Representative Michelle Au. This bill unfortunately did not get a hearing. A poll commissioned by the Georgia Budget and Policy Institute (GBPI) and the University of Georgia (UGA) released in February 2023, showed that 63% of respondents would support moving the tobacco tax rate to the national average.
In 2024, the American Lung Association in Georgia will join our tobacco control partners to educate state and local officials on the health and economic benefits of strong tobacco control policies. This includes the state policy goals highlighted above.
Georgia Facts |
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|---|---|
| Healthcare Costs Due to Smoking: | $3,182,695,641 |
| Adult Smoking Rate: | 12.50% |
| High School Smoking Rate: | 3.30% |
| High School Tobacco Use Rate: | 18.80% |
| Middle School Smoking Rate: | N/A |
| Smoking Attributable Deaths per Year: | 11,690 |
Adult smoking data come from CDC's 2022 Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System. High school smoking and tobacco use rates are taken from the 2021 Youth Risk Behavior Surveillance System. A current middle school smoking rate is not available for this state.
Health impact information is taken from the Smoking Attributable Mortality, Morbidity and Economic Costs (SAMMEC) software. Smoking attributable deaths reflect average annual estimates for the period 2005-2009 and are calculated for persons aged 35 years and older. Smoking-attributable healthcare expenditures are based on 2004 smoking-attributable fractions and 2009 personal healthcare expenditure data. Deaths and expenditures should not be compared by state.
Health impact information is taken from the Smoking Attributable Mortality, Morbidity and Economic Costs (SAMMEC) software. Smoking attributable deaths reflect average annual estimates for the period 2005-2009 and are calculated for persons aged 35 years and older. Smoking-attributable healthcare expenditures are based on 2004 smoking-attributable fractions and 2009 personal healthcare expenditure data. Deaths and expenditures should not be compared by state.
Georgia Information
Learn more about your state specific legislation regarding efforts towards effective Tobacco Control.