How does your state compare?

Tobacco Prevention and Cessation Funding Smokefree Air Tobacco Taxes Access to Cessation Services Flavored Tobacco Products
F F F F F
Tobacco Prevention and Cessation Funding F
Smokefree Air F
Tobacco Taxes F
Access to Cessation Services F
Flavored Tobacco Products F

The American Lung Association calls for the following actions to be taken by North Carolina's elected officials to reduce tobacco use and exposure to secondhand smoke:

  1. Increase state funding to $21 million for tobacco control programs, including prevention, education and cessation according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s Best Practices for Comprehensive Tobacco Control Programs;
  2. Support licensing of all tobacco retailers, including e-cigarette retailers;
  3. Support a tobacco tax increase for cigarettes of $1.46 to the current average cigarette tax and equalize taxes for all tobacco products, including e-cigarettes.

North Carolina Information

Learn more about your state specific legislation regarding efforts toward effective Tobacco Control.

North Carolina Information

Learn more about your state specific legislation regarding efforts towards effective Tobacco Control.

Highlights Laws & Policies
Tobacco Prevention and Cessation Funding

Tobacco Prevention and Cessation Funding

   
Overall Grade F
FY2023 State Funding for Tobacco Control Programs:$13,399,600
FY2023 Federal Funding for State Tobacco Control Programs:$2,353,231*
FY2023 Total Funding for State Tobacco Control Programs:$15,752,831
CDC Best Practices State Spending Recommendation: $99,300,000
Percentage of CDC Recommended Level: 15.9%
State Tobacco-Related Revenue: $458,600,000

*Includes tobacco prevention and cessation funding provided to states from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Help Fight Tobacco Use

Join our efforts to create a tobacco-free future. Stand with the American Lung Association to prevent and reduce tobacco use in your state.

Take Action

Tobacco Prevention and Cessation Funding

   
Overall Grade F
FY2023 State Funding for Tobacco Control Programs:$13,399,600
FY2023 Federal Funding for State Tobacco Control Programs:$2,353,231*
FY2023 Total Funding for State Tobacco Control Programs:$15,752,831
CDC Best Practices State Spending Recommendation: $99,300,000
Percentage of CDC Recommended Level: 15.9%
State Tobacco-Related Revenue: $458,600,000

*Includes tobacco prevention and cessation funding provided to states from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Help Fight Tobacco Use

Join our efforts to create a tobacco-free future. Stand with the American Lung Association to prevent and reduce tobacco use in your state.

Take Action
Smokefree Air

Smokefree Air

Overview of State Smoking Restrictions:

Overall Grade F
Government Workplaces: Restricted (prohibited in state government buildings)
Private Workplaces: No provision
Schools: Prohibited (public schools only)
Childcare Facilities: Restricted
Restaurants: Prohibited
Bars: Prohibited (allowed in cigar bars)
Casinos/Gaming Establishments: N/A (tribal casinos only)
Retail Stores: No provision
Recreational/Cultural Facilities: No provision
E-Cigarettes Included: No
Penalties: Yes
Enforcement: Yes
Preemption/Local Opt-Out: Yes

Citation: N.C. GEN. STAT. §§ 130A-491 to 130A-498 (2010), 115C-407 (2007), 131D-4.4 (2007) & 131E-114.3 (2007).

Help Fight Tobacco Use

Join our efforts to create a tobacco-free future. Stand with the American Lung Association to prevent and reduce tobacco use in your state.

Take Action

Smokefree Air

Overview of State Smoking Restrictions:

Overall Grade F
Government Workplaces: Restricted (prohibited in state government buildings)
Private Workplaces: No provision
Schools: Prohibited (public schools only)
Childcare Facilities: Restricted
Restaurants: Prohibited
Bars: Prohibited (allowed in cigar bars)
Casinos/Gaming Establishments: N/A (tribal casinos only)
Retail Stores: No provision
Recreational/Cultural Facilities: No provision
E-Cigarettes Included: No
Penalties: Yes
Enforcement: Yes
Preemption/Local Opt-Out: Yes

Citation: N.C. GEN. STAT. §§ 130A-491 to 130A-498 (2010), 115C-407 (2007), 131D-4.4 (2007) & 131E-114.3 (2007).

Help Fight Tobacco Use

Join our efforts to create a tobacco-free future. Stand with the American Lung Association to prevent and reduce tobacco use in your state.

Take Action
Tobacco Taxes
Thumbs Up

Thumbs down for North Carolina for having the fourth lowest cigarette tax in the country.

Tobacco Taxes

Overall Grade F
Cigarette Tax per pack of 20:$0.45
Tax on little cigars:Equalized: Yes; Weight-Based: No
Tax on large cigars:Equalized: Yes; Weight-Based: No
Tax on smokeless tobacco:Equalized: Yes; Weight-Based: No
Tax on pipe/RYO tobacco:Equalized: Yes; Weight-Based: No
Tax on E-Cigarettes:Equalized: No; Weight-Based: Yes

Help Fight Tobacco Use

Join our efforts to create a tobacco-free future. Stand with the American Lung Association to prevent and reduce tobacco use in your state.

Take Action

Tobacco Taxes

Overall Grade F
Cigarette Tax per pack of 20:$0.45
Tax on little cigars:Equalized: Yes; Weight-Based: No
Tax on large cigars:Equalized: Yes; Weight-Based: No
Tax on smokeless tobacco:Equalized: Yes; Weight-Based: No
Tax on pipe/RYO tobacco:Equalized: Yes; Weight-Based: No
Tax on E-Cigarettes:Equalized: No; Weight-Based: Yes

Help Fight Tobacco Use

Join our efforts to create a tobacco-free future. Stand with the American Lung Association to prevent and reduce tobacco use in your state.

Take Action
Access to Cessation Services

Access to Cessation Services

Overview of State Cessation Coverage:

         
Overall Grade F
State Medicaid Program:
Medications:All 7 medications are covered
Counseling: Some counseling is covered
Barriers to Coverage:Some barriers exist to access care
Medicaid Expansion:No
State Employee Health Plan(s):
Medications:All 7 medications are covered
Counseling:Some counseling is covered
Barriers to Coverage:Some barriers exist to access care
State Quitline:
Investment Per Smoker:$1.97; the median investment per smoker is $2.37
Other Cessation Provisions:
Private Insurance Mandate:No provision
Tobacco Surcharge:Limits tobacco surcharges

Citation: See North Carolina Tobacco Cessation Coverage page for specific sources.

Help Fight Tobacco Use

Join our efforts to create a tobacco-free future. Stand with the American Lung Association to prevent and reduce tobacco use in your state.

Take Action

Access to Cessation Services

Overview of State Cessation Coverage:

         
Overall Grade F
State Medicaid Program:
Medications:All 7 medications are covered
Counseling: Some counseling is covered
Barriers to Coverage:Some barriers exist to access care
Medicaid Expansion:No
State Employee Health Plan(s):
Medications:All 7 medications are covered
Counseling:Some counseling is covered
Barriers to Coverage:Some barriers exist to access care
State Quitline:
Investment Per Smoker:$1.97; the median investment per smoker is $2.37
Other Cessation Provisions:
Private Insurance Mandate:No provision
Tobacco Surcharge:Limits tobacco surcharges

Citation: See North Carolina Tobacco Cessation Coverage page for specific sources.

Help Fight Tobacco Use

Join our efforts to create a tobacco-free future. Stand with the American Lung Association to prevent and reduce tobacco use in your state.

Take Action
Flavored Tobacco Products

Flavored Tobacco Products

Overall Grade F
Restrictions on Flavored Tobacco Products: No state law or regulation

Help Fight Tobacco Use

Join our efforts to create a tobacco-free future. Stand with the American Lung Association to prevent and reduce tobacco use in your state.

Take Action

Flavored Tobacco Products

Overall Grade F
Restrictions on Flavored Tobacco Products: No state law or regulation

Help Fight Tobacco Use

Join our efforts to create a tobacco-free future. Stand with the American Lung Association to prevent and reduce tobacco use in your state.

Take Action