Rhode Island

Cigarette Smoking Among Youth, Grades 9-12, 1997

Past Month = tobacco use on one or more days in the past month
Frequent = tobacco use on 20+ days in the past month

Smokeless Tobacco Use Among Youth, Grades 9-12, 1997 (Past Month)

Past Month = tobacco use on one or more days in the past month
Frequent = tobacco use on 20+ days in the past month
 

Health Impact and Costs

Average Annual Deaths Related to Smoking, 1991-1993

Average Annual Years of Potential Life Lost*, 1991-1993

Medical Costs Related to Smoking, 1993

Ambulatory:  $49,390,000
Hospital:  $83,300,000
Nursing Home:  $123,770,000  (Preliminary estimates)
Drug:  $16,000,000
Other:  $44,080,000
TOTAL:  $316,550,000
 

Tobacco Control Legislation, 1998

Minors' Access to Tobacco Products

Minimum age for sale: 18
Illegal for minors to Purchase: Yes      Possess: No       Use: Yes*
(*For minors <16 in specified areas.)
Restrictions on Vending Machines: Vending machines must be located where minors cannot access them, unless machines are supervised or equipped with a locking device.
Signage: Signs required on premises and affixed to vending machines.
Licensure: Retail license and vending machine license required.
Penalties: Any person who sells to a minor will be fined $100. Suspension of license for violation.
 

Smokefree Indoor Air

Number of Rhode Island youth exposed to ETS in the home in 1996:   53,646

State government worksites: Designated smoking areas required or allowed (Penalties: To businesses)
Private worksites: Designated smoking areas required or allowed (Penalties: To businesses)
Restaurants: Designated smoking areas required or allowed (Penalties: To businesses and smokers)
Day care centers: No restrictions
Home-based day care: No restrictions
 

Excise Tax

Cigarette tax per pack: 71 cents
Rank = 8 (No. 1 is highest tax)
Federal and state taxes as a percentage of retail price: 40.9%*
Annual gross tax revenue from cigarettes: $54,317,563*
(*Based on previous tax rate of 61 cents per pack)
Smokeless tobacco tax: 20% of wholesale sales price

Advertising: No restrictions

State Preempts Local Laws: No preemption
 

Tobacco Economy

Cigarette Sales, 1997
Number of packages sold and taxed, per capita..........90.0

Tobacco Agriculture, 1997
None

Tobacco Manufacturing, 1996
None
 

Tobacco Use Prevention and Control Program

Funding: NCI ASSIST & RWJF/AMA SmokeLess States Program
Regional Network: Tobacco-Free New England

Contact:
Elizabeth Harvey
Rhode Island Department of Health
Cannon Building, 3 Capitol Hill, Room 408
Providence, RI  02908-5097
Phone: 401-222-3293
Fax: 401-222-4415
Internet Address: bettyh@doh.state.ri.us

State & National Data- List of States
State & National Tobacco Control Highlights