Cobra Effect and the End of Age of Cigarettes
November 02, 2026 by medium.com
Cobra Effect and the End of Age of Cigarettes
US cigarette sales are declining two to three times faster than their historical trend, raising questions about the future of tobacco control as smoking becomes less common.
Despite this progress, cigarette taxes and legal settlement payments remain important sources of state revenue, while only a small proportion is allocated to smoking prevention and cessation programmes.
These financial arrangements raise concerns about potential unintended incentives in tobacco policy. Public health priorities should remain focused on reducing smoking-related deaths, supporting cessation and ensuring access to lower-risk nicotine alternatives.
14.10% of the adult population are current smokers. There are approximately 39.8 million current smokers in United States 17.10% of men are current smokers but only 11.10% of women.
SOURCE: GSTHR
