Georgia Earns 'F' For Tobacco Policies: New Report

The American Lung Association's 18th annual "State of Tobacco Control" report was released nationwide on Wednesday and many states earned failing grades, including Georgia.

Georgia received 4 F's and 1 D grade—all failing grades.

The report graded Georgia's efforts in 2019 to implement proven tobacco control policies and identifies opportunities in 2020 to improve grades and the policies they reflect.

According to the association, tobacco use remains the leading cause of preventable death and disease in Georgia. To address the enormous toll, the American Lung Association calls for the following actions to be taken by Georgia's elected officials

1. Substantially increase the excise tax on tobacco products, including electronic smoking devices

2. Increase state funding for tobacco control programs, including prevention, education and cessation; and

3. Increase the number of local comprehensive smoke-free air laws that also include electronic smoking devices.

Georgia risks losing future generations to tobacco related disease unless steps are taken to curb the use of electronic cigarettes and other vaping products among the youth, the American Lung Association warned.

Georgia's youth are embracing electronic cigarettes at an alarming rate, the association finds. In the 2018 Georgia Youth Tobacco Surveillance Report, one in four Georgia high school students reported that they had ever used e-cigarettes.

Organizers for the American Lung Association in Georgia say they will urge the state legislature to tax electronic cigarettes at the same rate as other tobacco products and increase taxes on all tobacco products, as price is a deterrent to starting smoking. And, the Lung Association will also press legislators to increase funding for state tobacco prevention programs for parents, schools and communities to counter youth e-cigarette use.

To view Georgia's report card in its entirety, click here.