Wisconsin Gets Mostly Fs and Ds on Tobacco Report Card

MADISON, Wis. (CIVIC MEDIA) – Wisconsin’s efforts to curb smoking just aren’t cutting it, according to the American Lung Association. 

Every year, the organization releases its State of Tobacco Control report. It grades each state based on its measures to prevent people from smoking, and availability of services to help them quit. 

On its 2025 report card, Wisconsin got three Fs, one D, and a B. 

The three Fs were for access to cessation services, availability of flavored tobacco products, and tobacco prevention and cessation funding. The D was given for state tobacco taxes. The B was given for smoke-free air laws. 

Tobacco use is the number one cause of preventable death in Wisconsin, more than alcohol, AIDS, car crashes, illegal drugs, homicide and suicide combined. 

More than 7,800 Wisconsinites die each year because of tobacco.

The American Lung Association says to improve Wisconsin’s grade, the state should raise the age to buy tobacco from 18 to 21, protect the state’s smoke-free air law, and create tax equivalence between cigarettes and e-cigarettes.