HomeMy WebLinkAboutDPH PRESS RELEASE MARCH 2026View this email in your browser
Tuesday, March 10, 2026
Read the press release online
Massachusetts’ flavored tobacco product restriction
projected to save more than $70 million in smoking-related
health care costs since 2020 implementation
BOSTON (March 9, 2025) — The Massachusetts Department of Public Health
(DPH) released a report yesterday on the impact of An Act Modernizing Tobacco Control,
the historic legislation that restricts the sale of all flavored tobacco products—including
menthol cigarettes—exclusively to licensed smoking bars, where these products may be
sold only for onsite consumption. The report analyzed the impact of the legislation on
smoking-related health care costs in the Commonwealth.
The report, conducted by DPH’s Tobacco Cessation and Prevention Program in
collaboration with economists John Tauras, PhD, and Frank Chaloupka, PhD at the
University of Illinois at Chicago, concluded that restricting menthol cigarette sales reduced
the smoking prevalence in Massachusetts by 1.37 percentage points between June 2020
and January 2023.
As a result of reduced smoking prevalence, the economists projected reductions in chronic
diseases and resulting health care costs for lung cancer, heart attack, and stroke; and
reductions in smoking-related birth/pregnancy complications and related health care costs
for the children of these pregnancies during their first year of life. Adjusted for inflation, the
projected 10-year cost savings were close to $200 million.
With the menthol cigarette restriction of An Act Modernizing Tobacco Control taking effect
July 1, 2020, 2025 marked the five-year anniversary of the full enactment of the legislation.
Economists projected total five-year cost savings to be just over $70 million.
“Commemorating five years since the enactment of this historic legislation with the
knowledge that this law is saving lives and money is one more way to highlight the
transformative impact thoughtful policy can have on improving lives and reducing long-term
health costs,” said Public Health Commissioner Robbie Goldstein, MD, PhD.
While An Act Modernizing Tobacco Control restricted the sale of all flavored tobacco
products, this analysis only looked at menthol cigarettes. In addition, projected cost
Subscribe Past Issues Translate
3/16/26, 11:00 AM Massachusetts’ flavored tobacco product restriction projected to save more than $70 million in smoking-related health care costs
https://mailchi.mp/ab5d0e43160a/olrhbulletin-3-10-26?e=ce7295f35c 1/2
savings do not account for savings from other conditions that may be affected by smoking,
such as asthma. Therefore, the projected cost savings are likely underestimated.
A separate analysis showed the law has not had a negative effect on the number of
tobacco stores, convenience stores, and convenience stores with gas stations that sell
tobacco products, the number of employees of these stores, and the wages paid to
employees.
More details about the models and analysis used for the cost-savings estimates and
impact on tobacco retailers are available in the full reports. Additional law evaluation data
is also available via the Massachusetts Tobacco Cessation and Prevention Program’s
Statewide Evaluation Dashboard.
If you have any comments, questions, or feedback, please email:
localregionalpublichealth@mass.gov
Office of Local & Regional Health
Massachusetts Department of Public Health
67 Forest Street
Marlborough, MA 01752
(617) 753-8018
Visit our website
Follow DPH on X (formerly Twitter)
This email was sent to achui@wakefield.ma.us
why did I get this? unsubscribe from this list update subscription preferences
Office of Local and Regional Health, Massachusetts Department of Public Health · 67 Forest St · Marlborough, MA 01752-2492 · USA
Subscribe Past Issues Translate
3/16/26, 11:00 AM Massachusetts’ flavored tobacco product restriction projected to save more than $70 million in smoking-related health care costs
https://mailchi.mp/ab5d0e43160a/olrhbulletin-3-10-26?e=ce7295f35c 2/2