Why do Southern states have highest smoking rates? (school, taxes)

[azriverfan.]

Not one Southern state has a smoking rate below the average. Of the 11 states with the highest smoking rates, seven of them are in the South with two others being states that border the South (Missouri and West Virginia).

Is there something in the culture that espouses or tolerates smoking greater than other states?

Adult Smoking Ranges From 13% to 31% Across U.S. States

[mackinac81]

Maybe because tobacco is grown in the south, especially VA and NC?

[AnUnidentifiedMale]

1. Lower educational attainment levels

2. Lower cigarette taxes

3. Fewer restrictions on where people can smoke

[azriverfan.]

Originally Posted by AnUnidentifiedMale

1. Lower educational attainment levels

2. Lower cigarette taxes

3. Fewer restrictions on where people can smoke

Agreed but the question is why do those states have those measures?

[TempesT68]

I'm sure the main reason is education levels. It's fact that lower educated people are more likely to smoke, and the south in the states listed, are also the least educated in the country.

[Neuling]

Originally Posted by mackinac81

Maybe because tobacco is grown in the south, especially VA and NC?

I agree, probably there is more of a smoking tradition.
Apart from that the South is smoking hot

[momonkey]

Originally Posted by TempesT68

I'm sure the main reason is education levels. It's fact that lower educated people are more likely to smoke, and the south in the states listed, are also the least educated in the country.

True enough...


Educational attainment in the United States - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Moderator cut: link removed, linking to competitor sites is not allowed

[cuebald]

Originally Posted by momonkey

True enough...


Educational attainment in the United States - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Moderator cut: link removed, linking to competitor sites is not allowed

You view smoking entirely as a racial issue?

[momonkey]

Originally Posted by cuebald

You view smoking entirely as a racial issue?

Who said anything about smoking?

Follow the thread. AUIM and T68 said lower education levels help lead to increased smoking in Southern states. I agreed and offered an explanation why Southern states have lower education levels than other parts of the country. Southern states have large AA populations and, as we all know, blacks generally don't go as far in school as whites. In a previous thread we established that education levels of white Southerners are at par with whites around the country. I don't feel like looking it up to keep you from calling me a racist. Go ahead. It's where you're taking this anyway.

[Katarina Witt]

Originally Posted by azriverfan.

Agreed but the question is why do those states have those measures?

It's already been said: tobacco is grown in the south. There's a long tradition of smoking there.