The Wisconsin Wins tobacco compliance checks show the current rate of illegal tobacco sales have decreased in Oneida County. Wisconsin Wins reports the illegal sale rate is at nearly 15%; about a 4% decrease from last year at this time. Wisconsin Wins is a program designed to keep tobacco products out of the hands of youth through the enforcement of retailers. Coordinator Maria Skubal says the biggest mistake retailers make is misreading IDs.
“…slow down for one second while they’re up there at the register and look at the ID of the person that is attempting to buy tobacco. Right under their picture will be a yellow bar that says they’re ‘under 18 until’ and then a birth-date and it’s nice and easy way to look and see either they’re over or under 18…”
Skubal says of the 41 checks in the county, six retailers sold tobacco to a minor. She says clerks selling tobacco should card anyone who looks under the age of 27, and refuse the sale if the customer doesn’t have an ID.
For more information on how to prevent illegal tobacco sales, visit www.smokecheck.org.
