Wisconsin Wins (WI Wins) is a statewide program designed to decrease youth access to tobacco products.
The program helps reduce tobacco’s impact on Wisconsin by keeping these products out of kids’ hands. The Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids reports that 2,200 kids in Wisconsin, under the age of 18, become daily smokers each year. One way the program works is through compliance checks. This is done to make sure tobacco and nicotine products are not being sold to youth under the age of 18. In 2002, before the program started, Wisconsin’s noncompliance rate was 34%. Today it is down to 5.8%. WI Wins will be conducting random compliance checks in Lincoln County throughout the year.
“Last year 16% of Lincoln County retailers sold tobacco products to youth,” said Judy Sargent, Public Health Nurse of Lincoln County Health Department, “We hope to decrease that number this year by promoting training to retailers, and increasing education on the harmful effects of electronic vaping products.”
Although cigarette use has decreased among Lincoln County youth, there has been a spike in those who use electronic vaping products. According to the Lincoln County 2017 Youth Health profile, 12% of high school students reported smoking cigarettes in the past 30 days, while 23% reported using an electronic vaping product.
All kids deserve a healthy future. Tobacco retailers play a big role in keeping kids tobacco-free. Free online training is available at WITobaccoCheck.org. At the site, retailers and their employees can learn about Wisconsin tobacco sales laws. They can also get tips for avoiding underage sales. The site includes study guides and quizzes for employees. If employees pass the quiz, they get a certificate. In 2018, about 6,700 retail employees received training through the site. We encourage all retailers to take advantage of this free training, if they have not already done so.
For additional information or resources, please contact Judy Sargent, Northwoods Tobacco Free Coalition member, Lincoln County Health Department at (715) 539-1377 or [email protected]. Lincoln County Health Department is always working for a safer and healthier Lincoln County.