Tobacco use: Rhode Island 2026

• In 2024, 9.5% of adults smoked. Nationally, the adult cigarette smoking prevalence was 11.6%.
• In 2018-2019, 46.1% of adults who smoked in Rhode Island smoked menthol cigarettes. Nationally, 32.3% of adult smokers used menthol cigarettes during this period.
• In 2023, 3.1% of high school students in Rhode Island smoked cigarettes on at least one day in the past 30 days. Nationally, the cigarette smoking prevalence among high school students was 3.5%.

• In 2024, 7.0% of adults in Rhode Island used e-cigarettes. Nationally, the adult e-cigarette use prevalence was 8.0%.
• In 2024, 2.0% of adults in Rhode Island used smokeless tobacco every day or some days. Nationally, the adult smokeless tobacco use prevalence was 4.2%.
• In 2023, 16.5% of high school students in Rhode Island 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%.
• In 2023, 2.8% of high school students in Rhode Island used chewing tobacco, snuff, or dip on at least one day in the past 30 days. Nationally, the smokeless tobacco use prevalence among high school students was 2.3%.
• In 2023, 4.0% of high school students in Rhode Island smoked cigars, cigarillos, or little cigars on at least one day in the past 30 days. Nationally, the cigar use prevalence among high school students was 4.5%.

• Rhode Island received $156.3 million (estimated) in revenue from tobacco settlement payments and taxes in fiscal year 2026.
• Of this, the state allocated $793,114 in state funds to tobacco prevention in fiscal year 2026, 6.2% of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's annual spending target.
• Smoking-caused health care costs: $744 million per year.
• Smoking-caused losses in productivity: $1.1 billion per year.

Tobacco taxes

• Rhode Island is ranked 3rd in the U.S. for its cigarette tax of $4.50 per pack (enacted August 2017), 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.)
• Cigars, pipe tobacco products, and smokeless tobacco, other than snuff, are taxed at 80% of the wholesale cost. The tax on cigars cannot exceed 50 cents per cigar. Snuff is taxed at $1.00 per ounce.
• Oral nicotine pouches are subject to an 80% wholesale tax.

Clean indoor air ordinances

• Smoking is prohibited in government workplaces, private workplaces, schools, childcare facilities, restaurants, bars (except smoking bars), and retail stores.
• Casinos and gaming establishments must provide designated smoking and nonsmoking gaming areas.
• E-cigarettes are included in the state's indoor air laws and the state's definitions of smoking and tobacco products.
• Casinos are limited to one smoking lounge per casino.

Flavor restrictions

• The sale of all flavored e-cigarettes is prohibited.

Licensing laws

• Retailers and wholesalers are required to obtain a license to sell tobacco products.
• Retailers, distributors, and manufacturers are required to obtain a license to sell e-cigarette products.

Youth access laws

• In December 2019, the United States adopted a law raising the federal minimum age of sale for all tobacco products to 21, effective immediately.
• Establishments are required to post signs stating that the sale of tobacco products to people under 21 is prohibited.
• People under 21 are prohibited from buying bidis and e-cigarettes.
• Vending machine sales of e-cigarettes are restricted to locked machines in locations that are continually supervised and within the direct line of sight of an authorized person on the premises, or in locations inaccessible to persons under 21.
• The distribution and redemption of free e-cigarettes or coupons for free or discounted products are prohibited for anyone under 21 and within 500 feet of a school.
• Delivery sales of e-cigarettes require a valid government-issued ID and an attestation that the information is correct. Products must be delivered to the address on the identification, and delivery must be accepted by someone age 21 or older at that address.

Local tobacco laws

• Central Falls, Johnston, and Providence have banned the sale of flavored tobacco products, except menthol, mint, and wintergreen. Smoking and hookah bars are exempt.
• Barrington, Central Falls, Johnston, Middletown, Providence, and West Warwick prohibit licensed tobacco vendors from selling discounted tobacco products through coupon redemption and multipack offers.

Quitting statistics and benefits

• The CDC estimates that 54.4% of daily adult smokers in Rhode Island quit smoking for one or more days in 2019.
• In 2014, the Affordable Care Act required that Medicaid programs cover all tobacco cessation medications.
• Rhode Island's state quitline invests $1.50 per smoker, compared to the national median of $2.62.
• Rhode Island has a partial private insurance mandate provision for cessation.

* The datasets for both adult 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 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: U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Public Health Service; May 2008.

1. CDC. (2024). Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System.
2. CDC. (2024). State Menthol Fact Sheets.
3. CDC. (2023). High School Youth Risk Behavior Surveillance System.
4. Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids. (2026). Broken Promises to Our Children: A State-by-State Look at the 1998 State Tobacco Settlement 24 Years Later.
5. Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids. (2024). The Toll of Tobacco in the United States.
6. American Lung Association. (2026). State Legislated Actions on Tobacco Issues (SLATI).
7. American Lung Association. (2026). State of Tobacco Control.
8. Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids. (2024). State Cigarette Excise Tax Rates & Rankings. https://assets.tobaccofreekids.org/factsheets/0097.pdf
9. Rhode Island Department of Revenue. (September 19, 2025). Reminder: Expansion of the Definition of Other Tobacco Products (OTP). https://tax.ri.gov/sites/g/files/xkgbur541/files/2025-09/ADV_2025_19_OTP_Change.pdf
10. Public Health Law Center. (June 15, 2024). U.S. E-Cigarette Regulations: 50 State Review. https://www.publichealthlawcenter.org/resources/us-e-cigarette-regulations-50-state-review
11. Relating to Health and Safety -- Public Health and Workplace Safety Act, No. S 0188 (2025). https://webserver.rilegislature.gov/PublicLaws/law25/law25445.htm
12. Truth Initiative. (June 30, 2024). Local Restrictions on Flavored Tobacco and E-Cigarette Products. https://truthinitiative.org/research-resources/emerging-tobacco-products/local-restrictions-flavored-tobacco-and-e-cigarette
13. FDA. (2024). Tobacco 21. https://www.fda.gov/tobacco-products/retail-sales-tobacco-products/tobacco-21
14. Tobacco-Free Rhode Island. (2024). RI Local Tobacco Control Ordinances & Policies. https://tobaccofree-ri.org/local-ordinances.htm
15. CDC. (2024). Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System, State Tobacco Activities Tracking and Evaluation System.