Fact Sheet

Tobacco use: New Hampshire 2026

Topic

Smoking by Region

Subtopic

State Facts

Cigarette use: New Hampshire*

In 2024, 9.1% of adults in New Hampshire smoked. Nationally, the adult cigarette smoking prevalence was 11.6%.
In 2018-2019, 18.6% of adults who smoked in New Hampshire smoked menthol cigarettes. Nationally, 32.3% of adult smokers used menthol cigarettes during this period.
In 2023, 3.9% of high school students in New Hampshire smoked cigarettes on at least one day in the past 30 days. Nationally, the prevalence of cigarette smoking among high school students was 3.5%.

Other tobacco product use: New Hampshire*

In 2024, 5.7% of adults in New Hampshire used e-cigarettes. Nationally, the adult e-cigarette use prevalence was 8.0%.
In 2024, 1.7% of adults in New Hampshire used smokeless tobacco every day or some days. Nationally, the adult smokeless tobacco use prevalence was 3.4%.
In 2023, 16.7% of high school students in New Hampshire 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%.

Economics of tobacco use and tobacco control

New Hampshire received $211.3 million (estimated) in revenue from tobacco settlement payments and taxes in fiscal year 2026.
Of this, the state allocated $1 in state funds to tobacco prevention in fiscal year 2026, 0.0% of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's annual spending target.
Smoking-caused health care costs: $847 million per year.
Smoking-caused losses in productivity: $1.5 billion per year.

New Hampshire tobacco laws

Tobacco taxes

New Hampshire is ranked 27th in the U.S. for its cigarette tax of $1.78 per pack (enacted August 2013), 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.)
Little cigars are taxed at $1.78 per 20 cigars.
Roll-your-own tobacco is taxed at 8.9 cents per 0.09 ounces.
E-cigarettes are either taxed at $0.30 per milliliter or 8% of the wholesale price, depending on whether they are open cartridges/intended to be opened or not.
Loose tobacco, smokeless tobacco, snuff and cigars (not including premium cigars) are taxed at 65.03% of the wholesale sales price.

Clean indoor air ordinances

Smoking is prohibited in all public schools, childcare facilities, restaurants, and bars (allowed in cigar shops and allows for an economic hardship waiver).
Smoking restrictions are required in government workplaces, private workplaces, casinos/gaming establishments, and retail stores.
Use of e-cigarettes is prohibited in all areas smoking is prohibited, including hospitals, public transportation, restaurants, day care agencies during hours of operation, and any other enclosed place of public access when smoking cannot be "effectively segregated." Use of e-cigarette and e-liquid in or on the grounds of a public educational facility is prohibited.
E-cigarettes are included in the state's indoor air laws and the state's definition of tobacco products.

Licensing laws

Retailers and wholesalers are required to obtain a license to sell tobacco products.
A license is 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 e-cigarettes.
Distribution of free e-cigarettes or e-liquids is restricted to locations that are inaccessible to people under age 21 or a licensed retail tobacco store.

Quitting statistics and benefits

The CDC estimates 47.9% of daily adult smokers in New Hampshire quit smoking for one or more days in 2019.
In 2014, the Affordable Care Act required that Medicaid programs cover all tobacco cessation medications.**
New Hampshire's state quit line invests $2.31 per smoker, compared to the national median of $2.62.
New Hampshire does not have a private insurance mandate provision for cessation.

Notes and references

Updated 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 Tobacco Settlement 27 Years Later. Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids. https://www.tobaccofreekids.org/what-we-do/us/statereport
Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids. (2024). The Toll of Tobacco in the United States. Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids.
American Lung Association. (2024). State Legislated Actions on Tobacco Issues (SLATI).
American Lung Association. (2026). State of Tobacco Control. https://www.lung.org/research/sotc
Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids. (2024). State Cigarette Excise Tax Rates & Rankings. https://assets.tobaccofreekids.org/factsheets/0097.pdf
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
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.