Vermont Highlights
How does your state compare?
Tobacco use remains the leading cause of preventable death and disease in the United States and in Vermont. To address this enormous toll, the American Lung Association calls for the following actions to be taken by Vermont's elected officials:
- Improve tobacco retail licensure by establishing adequate license fees for enforcement and escalating fines for retailers who illegally sell to youth;
- Ensure adequate funding for comprehensive tobacco prevention and cessation programs;
- Eliminate purchase, use and possession laws that penalize youth and are ineffective at reducing youth tobacco use; and
- End the sale of menthol cigarettes and all flavored tobacco products.
Following the unfortunate veto of legislation by Governor Scott in 2024 ending the sale of flavored tobacco products in Vermont, much of the 2025 session was focused on continuing to build on the initial groundwork and progress made in the legislature and work to increase support to address the use of flavored tobacco products in future sessions. Enticed by kid-friendly flavors that also mask the harshness that comes with inhalation, Vermont's youth are being set up for a lifetime of nicotine addiction. State leaders must act to end all sales of flavored tobacco products.
Despite the Vermont Tobacco prevention program being underfunded well below the level recommended by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the amount of state funding decreased in 2025. Significantly increasing funding for Vermont's tobacco prevention and treatment efforts remains a key way to reduce tobacco use in the state.
During the 2025 legislative session, Vermont lawmakers did update the definition of other tobacco products to ensure that synthetic nicotine and nicotine analogs were included in the definition which will be key for enforcement and regulation of new and emerging tobacco products that are gaining popularity.
The American Lung Association in Vermont will continue to work with our coalition partners - the Vermont Public Health Association, the American Heart Association, the American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network, Campaign for Tobacco Free Kids and others to advance tobacco control and prevention policies and defend our successful programs and smokefree policies against rollbacks. As the legislature begins its work in 2026, the Lung Association will continue to grow our coalition to educate policymakers, business leaders and the media of the importance of the Lung Association's goals to reduce tobacco use and protect public health.
Vermont Facts |
|
|---|---|
| Healthcare Costs Due to Smoking: | $348,112,248 |
| Adult Smoking Rate: | 11.30% |
| Adult Tobacco Use Rate: | 16.20% |
| High School Smoking Rate: | 6.00% |
| High School Tobacco Use Rate: | 18.00% |
| Middle School Smoking Rate: | 2.00% |
| Smoking Attributable Deaths per Year: | 960 |
Adult smoking and tobacco use data come from CDC's 2023 Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System; adult tobacco use includes cigarettes, smokeless tobacco and e-cigarettes. High school smoking and tobacco use and middle school smoking data come from the 2023 Vermont Youth Risk Behavior Survey and are rounded to the nearest whole number.
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.
Vermont Information
Learn more about your state specific legislation regarding efforts toward effective Tobacco Control.