Fact Sheet

Tobacco use: Virginia 2026

Topic

Smoking by Region

Subtopic

State Facts

Cigarette use: Virginia*

In 2024, 10.9% of adults smoked. Nationally, the adult cigarette smoking prevalence was 11.6%.
In 2018-2019, 38.1% of adults who smoked in Virginia smoked menthol cigarettes. Nationally, 32.3% of adult smokers used menthol cigarettes during this period.
In 2023, 2.0% of high school students in Virginia smoked cigarettes on at least one day in the past 30 days. Nationally, the cigarette smoking prevalence among high school students was 3.5%.

Other tobacco product use: Virginia*

In 2024, 7.0% of adults in Virginia used e-cigarettes. Nationally, the adult e-cigarette use prevalence was 8.0%.
In 2024, 2.8% of adults in Virginia used smokeless tobacco every day or some days. Nationally, the adult smokeless tobacco use prevalence was 3.2%.
In 2023, 8.1% of high school students in Virginia 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 16.8%.
In 2023, 1.5% of high school students in Virginia 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 2.3%.
In 2023, 2.3% of high school students in Virginia 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 4.5%.

Economics of tobacco use and tobacco control

Virginia received $323.5 million (estimated) in revenue from tobacco settlement payments and taxes in fiscal year 2026.
Of this, the state allocated $9.9 million in state funds to tobacco prevention in fiscal year 2026, 10.8% of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's annual spending target.
Smoking-caused health care costs: $3.61 billion per year.
Smoking-caused losses in productivity: $9.4 billion per year.

Virginia tobacco laws

Tobacco taxes

Virginia is ranked 44th in the U.S. for its cigarette tax of 60 cents per pack (enacted July 2020), compared to the national average of $2.05. (New York has the highest tax at $5.35 and Missouri has the lowest at 17 cents.)
Moist snuff is taxed at 36 cents per ounce.
The tax on loose leaf tobacco products varies depending on weight: 42 cents for a single unit, 80 cents for a half-pound unit, $1.40 for a pound-unit, or 42 cents for all other units, pouches, or packages, plus an additional 42 cents for each 4-ounce increment over one pound.
Liquid nicotine is taxed 6.6 cents per milliliter.
Roll-your-own tobacco is taxed at 10% of the manufacturers' sales price.
Heated tobacco products are taxed 2.25 cents per stick, beginning January 1, 2021.
All other tobacco products are taxed at 20% of the manufacturers' sales price.

Clean indoor air ordinances

Smoking is prohibited in schools (public schools only) and childcare facilities (excluding home-based child care providers).
Smoking restrictions are required in government workplaces, restaurants, bars, and retail stores.
There are no smoking restrictions in private workplaces or casinos/gaming establishments.
School boards are required to implement policies that prohibit e-cigarette use on school buses, school property, and at school-sponsored activities.
Smoking electronic vaporizing devices is prohibited in parks wherever smoking is prohibited.
The use of electronic vaporizing devices is prohibited in any structure or place in any park where smoking is prohibited and may be further prohibited by the Department of Conservation and Recreation in any park.
E-cigarettes are not included in the state's indoor air laws (except in K-12 schools and public places and workplaces) or the state's definition of tobacco products.

E-cigarette registry laws

Effective December 31, 2025, only products from e-liquid manufacturers and alternative nicotine product manufacturers that are listed in Virginia's state directory and have provided certification of approval through the PMTA process will be allowed for sale in the state.

Licensing laws

Wholesalers are required to obtain a license to sell tobacco products. Retailers are not required to obtain a license to sell tobacco products.
A license is not required to sell e-cigarette products.

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 people under 21 are prohibited.
People under 21 are prohibited from buying alternative nicotine products, including e-cigarettes, unless they are active-duty military and 18 years of age or older.
Mail-order and internet sales of nicotine vapor products require age verification at the time of purchase and the signature of someone over 21 at delivery (unless the purchaser is active-duty military and 18 years of age or older).
Vending machine sales of nicotine vapor products are restricted to places not generally accessible to persons under 21.

Quitting statistics and benefits

The CDC estimates 49.4% of daily adult smokers in Virginia quit smoking for one or more days in 2019.
In 2014, the Affordable Care Act required that Medicaid programs cover all tobacco cessation medications. However, there is not yet evidence that the Virginia Medicaid program has complied with this requirement regarding NRT nasal spray, NRT lozenge, NRT inhaler, and Varenicline (Chantix).**
Virginia's state quit line invests $0.90 per smoker, compared to the national median of $2.62.
Virginia has a private insurance mandate provision for cessation.

Notes and references (March 2026)

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.

CDC. (2024). Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System.
CDC. (2024). State Menthol Fact Sheets.
CDC. (2023). High School Youth Risk Behavioral Surveillance System.
Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids. (2026). Broken Promises to Our Children: A State-by-State Look at the 1998 State Tobacco Settlement 24 Years Later FY2024. Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids.
Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids. (2024). The Toll of Tobacco in the United States. Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids.
American Lung Association. (2026). State Legislated Actions on Tobacco Issues (SLATI).
American Lung Association. (2026). State of Tobacco Control.
Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids. (2024). State Cigarette Excise Tax Rates & Rankings.
https://assets.tobaccofreekids.org/factsheets/0097.pdf
Virginia Department of Taxation. (2020). Tax Bulletin 20-11. Important Information Regarding Virginia's Tobacco Products Tax. Heated Tobacco Products Subject to Tax and Economic Nexus for Tobacco Products Distributors.
Public Health Law Center. (2024, June 15). U.S. E-Cigarette Regulations: 50 State Review.
https://www.publichealthlawcenter.org/resources/us-e-cigarette-regulations-50-state-review
State E-Cigarette Registry Bill Map. Public Health Law Center. Retrieved October 23, 2025, from:
https://www.publichealthlawcenter.org/resources/state-e-cigarette-registry-bill-map
FDA. (2024). Tobacco 21.
https://www.fda.gov/tobacco-products/retail-sales-tobacco-products/tobacco-21
CDC. (2024). Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System, State Tobacco Activities Tracking and Evaluation System.