Tobacco use in Florida 2023

• In 2022, 11.3% of adults in Florida smoked. Nationally, adult smoking prevalence was 14.0%.1
• In 2021, 3.3% of high school students in Florida smoked cigarettes on at least one day in the past 30 days. Nationally, the rate was 3.8%.2

• In 2022, 6.2% of adults in Florida used e-cigarettes. Nationally, adult e-cigarette use prevalence was 7.7%.1
• In 2022, 2.3% of adults in Florida used smokeless tobacco every day or some days. Nationally, adult smokeless tobacco use prevalence was 3.4%. 1
• In 2022, 15.2% of high school students in Florida used an electronic vapor product on at least one day in the past 30 days.4
• In 2022, 1.4% of high school students in Florida used chewing tobacco, snuff or dip on at least one day in the past 30 days.4
• In 2022, 2.1% of high school students in Florida smoked cigars, cigarillos or little cigars on at least one day in the past 30 days.4

• Florida received $1.5 billion (estimated) in revenue from tobacco settlement payments and taxes in fiscal year 2022.5
• Of this, the state allocated $77.7 million in state funds to tobacco prevention in fiscal year 2022, just 40% of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s annual spending target.5
• Smoking-related health care costs: $10.04 billion per year.5
• Smoking-related losses in productivity: $21.1 billion per year.6

Tobacco taxes

• Florida is ranked 33rd in the U.S. for its cigarette tax of $1.339 per pack (enacted July 2009), compared to the national average of $1.93. (New York has the highest tax at $5.35 and Missouri has the lowest at 17 cents.) 7-9
• All other tobacco products, except cigars, are taxed 85% of the wholesale sales price.7,8

Clean indoor air ordinances

• Smoking is prohibited in all government workplaces, private workplaces, schools, childcare facilities, restaurants, bars (except in those that make 10% or less of their sales from food), casinos/gaming establishments (tribal establishments exempt), retail stores and recreational/cultural facilities.
• E-cigarettes are included in the state’s clean indoor air law.10

Licensing laws

• Retailers and wholesalers are required to obtain a license to sell tobacco products.7
• A license is required to sell e-cigarette products.10

Youth access laws

• In December 2019, the United States adopted a law raising the federal minimum age of sale of all tobacco products to 21, effective immediately.
• Products must be under supervision of sales clerk(s) or in sight of the sales clerk.7,8
• Establishments are required to post signs stating that sales to minors are prohibited.7,8
• The sale of nicotine dispensing devices, including e-cigarettes, to persons under 21 is prohibited.7,8
• Delivery sales of nicotine products require certification from the customer, verification of certification by the retailer, notification to the customer of purchase age restriction, confirmation of shipment to the consumer by telephone and use of a delivery service that will verify the age of the person accepting the delivery. Internet sales require advanced credit card payment by the consumer.10

Local tobacco laws

• The city of St. Petersburg prohibits the use of smokeless tobacco products at the city’s sports venues, including Tropicana Field.11

• The CDC estimates 50.4% of daily adult smokers in Florida quit smoking for one or more days in 2019.3
• In 2014, the Affordable Care Act required that Medicaid programs cover all quit medications.8**
• Florida’s quit line invests $4.25 per smoker, compared to the national median of $2.37.8
• Florida does not have a private insurance mandate provision for quitting tobacco.8

Updated June 2023

* The datasets for both adults and youth prevalence were used to make direct comparisons at the state and national levels. National prevalence reported here may differ from what is reported in our national-level fact sheets. The numbers here also reflect the most recent data available. Dates of available data may differ across state fact sheets.

** The seven recommended cessation medications are NRT gum, NRT patch, NRT nasal spray, NRT inhaler, NRT lozenge, Varenicline (Chantix) and Bupropion (Zyban).

Fiore MC, et al. Treating Tobacco Use and Dependence: 2008 Update. Clinical Practice Guideline. Rockville, MD: US Department of Health and Human Services. Public Health Service: May 2008.

1.         CDC, Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System, 2022.

2.         CDC, Youth Risk Behavioral Surveillance System, 2021.

3.         CDC, Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System, State Tobacco Activities Tracking and Evaluation System, 2021.

4.         Florida Youth Tobacco Survey, 2022.

5.         Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids, Broken Promises to Our Children: a State-by-State Look at the 1998 State Tobacco Settlement 24 Years Later FY2023, 2023.

6.         Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids, Toll of Tobacco in the United States.

7.         American Lung Association, State Legislated Actions on Tobacco Issues (SLATI).

8.         American Lung Association, State of Tobacco Control, 2023.

9.         Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids. State Cigarette Excise Tax Rates & Rankings. https://www.tobaccofreekids.org/assets/factsheets/0097.pdf. Accessed October 4th 2023.

10.       Public Health Law Center. U.S. E-Cigarette Regulation: 50-State Review. http://www.publichealthlawcenter.org/resources/us-e-cigarette-regulations-50-state-review. Accessed October 4th 2023.

11.       Knock Tobacco Out of the Park. https://tobaccofreebaseball.org/. Accessed October 4th 2023.