Tax must be increased and equalised across the spectrum of tobacco products to achieve the goal of halving the smoking rate in 10 years, the American Lung Association said in its latest study on the state of government control efforts.

“2014 was generally a disappointing year with little or no progress made at the state and local levels”, the Association concludes in ‘State of Tobacco Control 2015’.
In addition to eliminating lower duties on items such as cigarillos, the Association said regulators must issue standards for design and content of tobacco products. Goals set by the medical lobbying group in its 13th annual assessment of control efforts include reducing the national smoking rate to less than 10 per cent by 2024 from 18 per cent and protecting all citizens against second-hand smoke by 2019.