This year the Northwoods Tobacco-Free Coalition (NWTFC) once again conducted tobacco compliance checks. Any store that has a tobacco license may be checked. A total of 31 random checks were completed in Lincoln County. This year, three stores sold tobacco to a minor. That makes our county’s illegal sales rate 11.1%. This rate is up from last year’s illegal sale rate of 10.0%.
“Tobacco sales starts with properly trained employees and it is the often the managers or store owners who oversee this training,” said Judy Sargent, Lincoln County Public Health Nurse. “An increase in illegal sales indicates more education needs to be done when it comes to properly reading ID’s. We have given the stores our contact information and tools to use to ensure they take the time to check ID’s to help them read them correctly. If they are under age, they should not make the sale.”
Wisconsin Wins and the Lincoln County Health Department encourage all clerks selling tobacco to card anyone who looks to be under the age of 40. They also encourage stores to refuse the sale of a tobacco product without proper verification of age. Stores who sell tobacco products to minors not only risk the health of our youth, but also risk receiving fines. If any store would like more information on how to properly train employees to read IDs please visit: www.witobaccocheck.org. This site offers a free, online training program. It also helps clerks identify quick and easy ways to properly read ID cards.
Wisconsin Wins would like to thank the majority of stores who do not sell tobacco to minors.
“By working with local stores to eliminate tobacco sales to minors we can help improve the health of our youth and brighten our community’s future!” Sargent noted.
For additional information on the Wisconsin Wins program please contact Judy Sargent, Public Health Nurse, phone 715-539-1377 or [email protected].
For more information about Lincoln County Health Department’s programs and services, visit lincolncountyhealthdepartment.com or find them on Facebook. Lincoln County Health Department is always working for a safer and healthier Lincoln County.