State Legislated Actions on Tobacco Issues: 2007: Foundation-supported report by the American Lung Association shows more states took strong action against tobacco during the year.

Publication Date: April 2008

Publisher: American Lung Association; Robert Wood Johnson Foundation

Author(s): American Lung Association

Research Area: Health

Type: Report

Abstract:

The annual update of State Legislated Actions on Tobacco Issues—SLATI, for short—is now in its 20th year of publication.

Published by the American Lung Association with support from RWJF, the report tracked the passage of legislation and other state policies related to tobacco control and prevention, including tobacco taxes, youth access and funding for tobacco control programs during 2007.

SLATI 2007 showed an increasing number of states taking strong action against tobacco during the year—including five states which took steps to counter the harmful effects of secondhand smoke.

Indeed, eight states passed increases in their tobacco taxes in 2007, bringing the average state cigarette tax up to $1.11 a pack—a dramatic increase from the beginning of 2002. Back then, the average tax was only 44.6 cents per pack.