Regions are those used by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency for service delivery.

The American Lung Association State of Tobacco Control 2007 report found:

Region 1: Maine, Vermont, New Hampshire, Massachusetts, Rhode Island and Connecticut

All New England states prohibit smoking in restaurants and bars now that New Hampshire strengthened its law in 2007. The regional average cigarette tax is also the highest in the country at $1.81 per pack. Rhode Island has the highest cigarette tax in the region at $2.46 per pack. Maine continues to lead the region in funding for tobacco control programs.

Region 1 average cigarette tax: $1.81

• Connecticut increased its cigarette tax by $0.49 to $2.00 per pack; New Hampshire increased its cigarette tax by $0.28 to $1.08 per pack.
• New Hampshire passed legislation prohibiting smoking in restaurants and bars. However, smoking is still allowed in separately ventilated areas in many other public places and workplaces.
• Maine, for the eighth year in a row, funded its tobacco control program above the minimum level recommended by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
• Connecticut, Maine and Rhode Island passed legislation requiring cigarettes to self-extinguish when not being smoked, to help prevent cigarette-caused fires.

Region 2: New York, New Jersey and Puerto Rico

New York, New Jersey and Puerto Rico have taken the lead with the strongest smokefree air laws of any region in the country. New Jersey has the highest state cigarette tax in the country and in the region at $2.575 per pack although New York City has the highest combined state and city tax at $3.00 per pack. New York leads the region by funding its tobacco control program close to the minimum level recommended by the CDC.

Region 2 average cigarette tax: $1.77

• New York continued to fund its tobacco control program close to the minimum level recommended by the CDC.
• New Jersey passed legislation requiring cigarettes to self-extinguish when not being smoked, to help prevent cigarette-caused fires.
• Puerto Rico’s law prohibiting smoking in almost all public places and workplaces, including restaurants and bars, took effect in March 2007.

Region 3: Pennsylvania, Delaware, Maryland, District of Columbia, West Virginia and Virginia

Maryland joins Delaware and the District of Columbia in protecting workers from secondhand smoke when it approved comprehensive smokefree workplace in 2007. Maryland also took over the top spot in the region with a $2.00 per pack cigarette tax. Delaware remains the region’s leader in funding for tobacco control programs.

Region 3 average cigarette tax: $1.06

• Maryland passed legislation prohibiting smoking in almost all public places and workplaces, including restaurants and bars, and increased its cigarette tax by $1.00 to $2.00 per pack.
• Delaware increased its cigarette tax by $0.60 to $1.15 per pack.
• Delaware, for the fifth consecutive year, funded its tobacco control program above the minimum level recommended by the CDC.
• Delaware and Maryland passed legislation requiring cigarettes to self-extinguish when not being smoked, to help prevent cigarette-caused fires.

Regional Analysis continued...