Tobacco use in New Jersey 2019

• In 2017, 13.7% of adults smoked. Nationally, the rate was 17.1%.1
• In 2016, 4.7% of high school students in New Jersey smoked cigarettes on at least one day in the past 30 days. Nationally, the rate was 8.8%.2,3

• In 2017, 4.4% of adults used e-cigarettes and 2.1% used smokeless tobacco.4
• In 2016, 9.6% of high school students in New Jersey used electronic vapor products on at least one day in the past 30 days.2
• In 2016, 2.9% of high school students in New Jersey used chewing tobacco, snuff or dip on at least one day in the past 30 days.2
• In 2016, 6.8% of high school students in New Jersey smoked cigars, cigarillos or little cigars on at least one day in the past 30 days.2

• New Jersey received $919.6 million (estimated) in revenue from tobacco settlement payments and taxes in fiscal year 2019.5
• Of this, the state allocated $7.2 million in state funds to tobacco prevention in fiscal year 2019, 7% of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s annual spending target.5
• Smoking-caused health care costs: $4.06 billion per year.5
• Smoking-caused losses in productivity: $3.15 billion per year.6

Tobacco taxes

• New Jersey is ranked 12th in the U.S. for its cigarette tax of $2.70 per pack (enacted July 2009), compared to the national average of $1.81. (The District of Columbia has the highest tax at $4.50 and Missouri has the lowest at 17 cents.)7-9
• Moist snuff is taxed at 75 cents per ounce. All other tobacco products are taxed at 30% of the wholesale price.7 

Clean indoor air ordinances

• Smoking is prohibited in all government workplaces, private workplaces, schools, childcare facilities, restaurants, bars (allowed in cigar bars/lounges), retail stores and recreational/cultural facilities.7,8
• Smoking is prohibited in indoor areas of horse tracks. Atlantic City has an ordinance restricting smoking to 25% of the gaming floors of casinos.7,8
• E-cigarettes is included in the state’s definition of smoking.10

Youth access laws

• The minimum age to purchase tobacco products in New Jersey is 21. 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 and those who sell tobacco products to those under 21 will be fined and could face suspension or revocation of their tobacco license. The sign must also state that proof of age may be required for purchase of tobacco products.7
• Persons under 21 are prohibited from buying electronic smoking devices, including e-cigarettes.7,8 

• The CDC estimates 55.7% of daily adult smokers in New Jersey quit smoking for one or more days in 2017.4
• In 2014, the Affordable Care Act required that Medicaid programs cover all tobacco cessation medications.8**
• New Jersey’s state quit line invests $2.87 per smoker, compared to the national average of $2.21.8
• New Jersey has a private insurance mandate provision for cessation.8

Updated April 2019

*National and state-level prevalence numbers reflect the most recent data available. This 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, 2017.

2. Center for Tobacco Studies. 2016 New Jersey Youth Tobacco Survey: A Statewide Report. Piscataway, New Jersey: Rutgers School of Public Health; January 2018.

3. CDC, Youth Risk Behavior Surveillance System, 2017.

4. CDC, Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System, State Tobacco Activities Tracking and Evaluation System, 2017.

5. Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids, Broken Promises to Our Children: a State-by-State Look at the 1998 State Tobacco Settlement 20 Years Later FY2019, 2018.

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, 2019.

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

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.