Tobacco use in Kentucky 2023

• In 2022, 17.4% of adults in Kentucky smoked. Nationally, adult smoking prevalence was 14.0%.¹
• In 2021, 4.9% of high school students in Kentucky 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, 10.5% of adults in Kentucky used e-cigarettes. Nationally, adult e-cigarette use prevalence was 7.7%.¹
• In 2022, 7.4% of adults in Kentucky used smokeless tobacco every day or some days. Nationally, adult smokeless tobacco use prevalence was 3.4% ¹
• In 2021, 21.9% of high school students in Kentucky used electronic vapor products on at least one day in the past 30 days. Nationally, e-cigarette use prevalence among high school students was 18.0%.²
• In 2021, 4.2% of high school students in Kentucky 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, 4.3% of high school students in Kentucky 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

• Kentucky received $496.7 million (estimated) in revenue from tobacco settlement payments and taxes in fiscal year 2022.³
• Of this, the state allocated $2.0 million in state funds to tobacco prevention in fiscal year 2022, 3.5% of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s annual spending target.³
• Smoking-related health care costs: $2.23 billion per year.³
• Smoking-related losses in productivity: $6.3 billion per year.⁴

Tobacco taxes

• Kentucky is ranked 37th in the U.S. for its cigarette tax of $1.10 per pack (enacted July 2018), compared with the national average of $1.93. (New York has the highest tax at $5.35 and Missouri has the lowest at 17 cents.)^5-7
• Moist snuff is taxed at 19 cents per unit of 1.5 ounces or less. Chewing tobacco is taxed at 19 cents per each single unit, 40 cents per each half pound unit and 65 cents per each pound unit. All other tobacco products are taxed at 15% of the wholesale price.^5,6

Clean indoor air ordinances

• Smoking restrictions are required in government workplaces (prohibited in state government buildings) and smoking is prohibited in schools.^5,6
• There are no smoking restrictions in private workplaces, childcare facilities, restaurants, bars, casinos/gaming establishments, retail stores or recreational/cultural facilities.^5,6
• The use of e-cigarettes is prohibited on all properties owned or operated by the state’s executive branch, in courtrooms and hallways of Hardin District Court and Christian County Justice Center, in underground mines, at body piercing and tattooing workstations, and by child care professionals in the presence of a child. The use of vapor products is prohibited on school property and in school vehicles and at all school-related trips and activities (except designated outdoor areas at secondary schools).⁸

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.⁵
• A license is not required to sell e-cigarette products.⁸

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.^5,6
• Minors are prohibited from buying alternative tobacco products, including e-cigarettes.^5,6

• The CDC estimates 47.0% of daily adult smokers in Kentucky quit smoking for one or more days in 2019.⁹
• In 2014, the Affordable Care Act required Medicaid programs cover all quit medications.⁶**
• Kentucky’s state quit line invests .88 cents per smoker, compared with the national median of $2.37.⁶
• Kentucky has a private insurance mandate provision for quitting tobacco.⁶

Updated September 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 quitting 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, 2019.

2.         CDC, Youth Risk Behavioral Surveillance System, 2019.

3.         Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids, Broken Promises to Our Children: a State-by-State Look at the 1998 State Tobacco Settlement 22 Years Later FY2021, 2020.

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

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

6.         American Lung Association, State of Tobacco Control, 2021.

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

8.         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.

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