Tobacco use in Nebraska 2023

• In 2022, 13.0% of adults in Nebraska smoked. Nationally, adult smoking prevalence was 14.0%.¹
• In 2021, 3.6% of high school students in Nebraska 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, 8.5% of adults in Nebraska used e-cigarettes. Nationally, adult e-cigarette use prevalence was 7.7%¹
• In 2022, 4.5% of adults in Nebraska used smokeless tobacco some days or every day. Nationally, adult smokeless tobacco use prevalence was 3.4%.¹
• In 2021, 14.7% of high school students in Nebraska used electronic vapor products on at least one day in the past 30 days. Nationally, e-cigarette use prevalence among high school students was 18%.²
• In 2021, 2.9% of high school students in Nebraska used chewing tobacco, snuff or dip on at least one day in the past 30 days. Nationally, smokeless tobacco use prevalence among high school students was 2.5%.²
• In 2021, 3.0% of high school students in Nebraska smoked cigars, cigarillos or little cigars on at least one day in the past 30 days. Nationally, cigar use prevalence among high school students was 3.1%.²

• Nebraska received $98.4 million (estimated) in revenue from tobacco settlement payments and taxes in fiscal year 2022.⁴
• Of this, the state allocated $2.6 million in state funds to tobacco prevention in fiscal year 2022, 12.4% of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s annual spending target.⁴
• Smoking-caused health care costs: $924 million per year.⁴
• Smoking-caused losses in productivity: $651.9 million per year.⁵

Tobacco taxes

• Nebraska is ranked 42nd in the U.S. for its cigarette tax of 64 cents per pack (enacted October 2002), 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.)^6-8
• Moist snuff is taxed at 44 cents per ounce. All other tobacco products are taxed at 20% of the purchase price.^6,7

Clean indoor air ordinances

• Smoking is prohibited in all government workplaces, private workplaces, schools, childcare facilities, restaurants, bars (except cigar shops), casinos/gaming establishments (except tribal establishments), retail stores and recreational/cultural facilities.⁶
• E-cigarettes are included in the state’s definition of smoking.⁹

Licensing laws

• Retailers and wholesalers are required to obtain a license to sell tobacco products.⁶
• A license is 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.
• Minors are prohibited from buying e-cigarettes.⁶
• The sale of tobacco products through self-service displays is prohibited. Self-service displays of electronic nicotine delivery systems is restricted to tobacco specialty stores and cigar bars.^6,9

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, 2022.

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 FY2023, 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.