How does your state compare?

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

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

  1. Require all establishments selling nicotine products to obtain licenses, provide for and fund specific enforcement measures and establish a meaningful penalty structure for underage sales violations;
  2. Increase funding for the state tobacco prevention and cessation program to $10 million, allocate the incremental $14 million the state stands to receive in Juul settlement funds over 6 years to the program and ensure that funding is spent according to the Centers for Disease Control and Preventions Best Practices for Comprehensive Tobacco Control Programs; and
  3. Support and defend local comprehensive smokefree laws, including e-cigarettes.

Kentucky Information

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

Kentucky Information

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

Highlights Laws & Policies Historical Data
Tobacco Prevention and Cessation Funding
Thumbs Up

Thumbs up for Kentucky for increasing funding for its state tobacco control program by close to $1 million dollars this fiscal year.

Tobacco Prevention and Cessation Funding

   
Overall Grade F
FY2024 State Funding for Tobacco Control Programs:$2,900,000
FY2024 Federal Funding for State Tobacco Control Programs:$1,656,354*
FY2024 Total Funding for State Tobacco Control Programs:$4,556,354
CDC Best Practices State Spending Recommendation: $56,400,000
Percentage of CDC Recommended Level: 8.1%
State Tobacco-Related Revenue: $475,100,000

*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.

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Tobacco Prevention and Cessation Funding

   
Overall Grade F
FY2024 State Funding for Tobacco Control Programs:$2,900,000
FY2024 Federal Funding for State Tobacco Control Programs:$1,656,354*
FY2024 Total Funding for State Tobacco Control Programs:$4,556,354
CDC Best Practices State Spending Recommendation: $56,400,000
Percentage of CDC Recommended Level: 8.1%
State Tobacco-Related Revenue: $475,100,000

*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
Childcare Facilities: No provision
Restaurants: No provision
Bars: No provision
Casinos/Gaming Establishments: No provision
Retail Stores: No provision
E-Cigarettes Included: Yes
Preemption/Local Opt-Out: No

Citation: KY REV. STAT. ANN. §§ 61.165 (2006), 61.167 (2004), 438.050 (2019), 438.345 (2019) & EXEC. ORDER 2014-0747 (2014).

Note: The Smokefree Air grade only examines state tobacco control law and does not reflect local smokefree ordinances. Kentucky has made great strides in protecting people from secondhand smoke by passing comprehensive local smokefree ordinances that cover 35.1% of the states population.

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.

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Smokefree Air

Overview of State Smoking Restrictions:

Overall Grade F
Government Workplaces: Restricted (prohibited in state government buildings)
Private Workplaces: No provision
Schools: Prohibited
Childcare Facilities: No provision
Restaurants: No provision
Bars: No provision
Casinos/Gaming Establishments: No provision
Retail Stores: No provision
E-Cigarettes Included: Yes
Preemption/Local Opt-Out: No

Citation: KY REV. STAT. ANN. §§ 61.165 (2006), 61.167 (2004), 438.050 (2019), 438.345 (2019) & EXEC. ORDER 2014-0747 (2014).

Note: The Smokefree Air grade only examines state tobacco control law and does not reflect local smokefree ordinances. Kentucky has made great strides in protecting people from secondhand smoke by passing comprehensive local smokefree ordinances that cover 35.1% of the states population.

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

Tobacco Taxes

Overall Grade F
Cigarette Tax per pack of 20:$1.10
Tax on little cigars:Equalized: No; Weight-Based: No
Tax on large cigars:Equalized: No; Weight-Based: No
Tax on smokeless tobacco:Equalized: No; Weight-Based: Yes
Tax on pipe/RYO tobacco:Equalized: No; Weight-Based: No
Tax on E-Cigarettes:Equalized: No; Weight-Based: No

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:$1.10
Tax on little cigars:Equalized: No; Weight-Based: No
Tax on large cigars:Equalized: No; Weight-Based: No
Tax on smokeless tobacco:Equalized: No; Weight-Based: Yes
Tax on pipe/RYO tobacco:Equalized: No; Weight-Based: No
Tax on E-Cigarettes:Equalized: No; Weight-Based: No

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
Thumbs Up

Thumbs up for Kentucky for providing comprehensive coverage for all tobacco cessation medications and types of counseling to Medicaid enrollees with no barriers.

Access to Cessation Services

Overview of State Cessation Coverage:

         
Overall Grade B
State Medicaid Program:
Medications:All 7 medications are covered
Counseling: All 3 types of counseling are covered
Barriers to Coverage:No barriers exist to access care
Medicaid Expansion:Yes
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:$1.21; the median investment per smoker is $1.93
Other Cessation Provisions:
Private Insurance Mandate:Yes
Tobacco Surcharge:Limits tobacco surcharges

Citation: See Kentucky 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 B
State Medicaid Program:
Medications:All 7 medications are covered
Counseling: All 3 types of counseling are covered
Barriers to Coverage:No barriers exist to access care
Medicaid Expansion:Yes
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:$1.21; the median investment per smoker is $1.93
Other Cessation Provisions:
Private Insurance Mandate:Yes
Tobacco Surcharge:Limits tobacco surcharges

Citation: See Kentucky 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