Tobacco use in Wisconsin 2023

• In 2022, 14.3% of adults smoked. Nationally, the adult smoking prevalence was 14.0%.¹
• In 2021, 4.5% of high school students in Wisconsin smoked cigarettes on at least one day in the past 30 days. Nationally, smoking prevalence among high school students was 3.8%.²

• In 2022, 6.7% of adults in Wisconsin used e-cigarettes. Nationally, adult e-cigarette use prevalence was 7.7%.¹
• In 2022, 3.4% of adults in Wisconsin used smokeless tobacco some day or every day. Nationally, adult smokeless tobacco use prevalence was 3.4%.¹
• In 2021, 14.7% of high school students in Wisconsin used electronic vapor products on at least one day in the past 30 days. Nationally, the e-cigarette use prevalence among high school students was 18%.²
• In 2021, 2.4% of high school students in Wisconsin used chewing tobacco, snuff or dip on at least one day in the past 30 days. Nationally, the smokeless tobacco use prevalence among high school students was 2.5%.²
• In 2021, 2.4% of high school students in Wisconsin smoked cigars, cigarillos or little cigars on at least one day in the past 30 days. Nationally, the cigar use prevalence among high school students was 3.1%.²

• Wisconsin received $721.3 million (estimated) in revenue from tobacco settlement payments and taxes in fiscal year 2023.⁴
• Of this, the state allocated $5.3 million in state funds to tobacco prevention in fiscal year 2023, 9.2% of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s annual spending target.⁴
• Smoking-caused health care costs: $3.09 billion per year.⁴
• Smoking-caused losses in productivity: $5.6 billion per year.⁵

Tobacco taxes

• Wisconsin is ranked 16th in the U.S. for its cigarette tax of $2.52 per pack (enacted September 2009), compared to the national average $1.93. (New York has the highest tax at $5.35 and Missouri has the lowest at 17 cents.)^6-8
• Moist snuff is taxed at 100% of the manufacturer’s list price.⁶
• Cigars are taxed at 71% of the manufacturer’s list price, not exceeding 50 cents per cigar.⁶
• E-cigarettes are taxed at 5 cents per milliliter.⁶
• All other tobacco products are taxed at 71% of the manufacturer’s list price.^6,7 

Clean indoor air ordinances

• Smoking is prohibited in government workplaces, private workplaces, schools, childcare facilities, restaurants, bars (allowed in existing tobacco bars), casinos/gaming establishments (tribal establishments exempt), retail stores and recreational/cultural facilities.^6,7
• E-cigarette use is prohibited in Wisconsin’s State Fair Park indoor facilities and the main stage area.⁹

Licensing laws

• Retailers and wholesalers are required to obtain a license to sell tobacco products.⁶
• A license is not required to sell e-cigarette products.⁹

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.
• Establishments are required to post signs stating that sales to minors are prohibited.⁶
• Minors are prohibited from buying alternative nicotine products, including e-cigarettes.⁶

Local tobacco laws

• Milwaukee prohibits the use of smokeless tobacco at Miller Park and other sports venues in the city.¹⁰

• The CDC estimates 46.9% of daily adult smokers in Wisconsin quit smoking for one or more days in 2019.³
• In 2014, the Affordable Care Act required that Medicaid programs cover all tobacco cessation medications.^7**
• Wisconsin’s state quit line invests 1.11 dollars per smoker, compared to the national median of $2.37.⁷
• Wisconsin does not have a private insurance mandate provision for cessation.⁷

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, 2023.

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

3.         CDC, Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System, State Tobacco Activities Tracking and Evaluation System, 2023.

4.         Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids, Broken Promises to Our Children: a State-by-State Look at the 1998 State Tobacco Settlement 24 Years Later FY2032, 2023.

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

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

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

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

9.         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.

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