Is The Texan Smoking Epidemic Over?

Since 13.2% of adults in Texas still smoke, local authorities are actively taking measures to decrease tobacco consumption in the state. For instance, retailers and wholesalers need to obtain the necessary licenses first before they can start to legally sell tobacco products. There are also statewide smoking restrictions in most public and outdoor areas to limit second-hand smoke exposure.

Due to these regulations, along with the efforts to educate people about the dangers of tobacco smoking, it is estimated that 47.4% of daily adult smokers in Texas are trying to quit smoking. Understandably, as the number of smokers quitting the habit increases, the popularity and use of smoking cessation efforts are growing as well.

National Trends in Smoking Cessation – Where Texas Stands

Unsurprisingly, the efforts to reduce smoking in Texas are part of a larger nationwide initiative. Across the US, numerous states and local officials have enacted various regulations to crackdown on cigarette smoking. Case in point, the state of NY amended the Clean Indoor Air Act just last 2021. This is in the hopes of reducing smoking in indoor areas. Meanwhile, in Florida, local law states that you can only bring up to five cartons of cigarettes with you into the state. This is done to prevent illegal tobacco sales and distribution.

Aside from laws and acts, nationwide smoking cessation trends have seen the rise of smoking cessation products. Following the prohibition of many vapes and e-cigarettes, more discreet options like nicotine pouches and gums are becoming popular. As a matter of fact, an article from Prilla on the nicotine pouch market revealed that the nicotine pouch industry is expected to reach $22.160 million by the end of 2027, with an overall growth of 31% during the forecast period. Similarly, nicotine gums are expected to grow by nearly 5% in the same period given widespread demand. States like California are some of the biggest markets for these products, which underscores a wider trend of smoking cessation. In Texas, similar nicotine replacement products are also being rolled out, although the onus to make these products and initiatives more accessible to Texans falls on the government.

Smoking Epidemic in Texas: What’s the Government Doing?

Besides the aforementioned public smoking restrictions, one of the recent initiatives the local Texan government has implemented to curb smoking is imposing a state excise tax of $1.41 per pack of cigarettes and all tobacco products. Although this will discourage people from purchasing tobacco cigarettes, our previous article on ‘Quit Playin’ shared that this law will financially impact disadvantaged Americans because the majority of smokers belong to the lowest socioeconomic categories. That’s why simply increasing excise taxes on tobacco products will burden the lowest-income earners the most, creating a “reverse-Robinhood” effect. But on the other hand, this can mean that people are more likely to purchase nicotine alternatives, which don’t contain any harmful tobacco substances.

Another scheme the local government has implemented is increasing the legal age to buy tobacco products to 21 years old. According to a CNN report, the senate bill signed by Texas Governor Greg Abbott states that it will end the sale of tobacco products to anyone under the specified age, making the accessibility of tobacco items limited to the older demographic. Those who are caught breaking the law will have to pay a fine of up to $500. Many US states have already enforced this regulation, such as Hawaii, California, New Jersey, and Oregon, indicating how Texas is also participating in making a tobacco-free community. Over time, this is expected to reduce the number of overall smokers as each demographic ages up.

Solving the smoking epidemic is not easy as it seems. But even if the local government in Texas still has a long way to go before they can truly achieve a tobacco-free community, their ongoing initiatives show their eagerness to make it possible.