Illegal Tobacco Sales to Minors on the Decline

Source from:  By Michael Skubal - Daily News Staff July 16, 2008  07/17/2008

Illegal sales of tobacco products in Oneida County are on the decline. According to Derek Anderson of the Oneida County Health Department, there were only 10 illegal sales in the county from April 1 through June 30. The department statistics are the result of periodic compliance checks which are conducted through the Wisconsin Wins programs. WI Wins is an intervention program designed to reduce the rate of illegal tobacco sales to minors at retail outlets. The program involves conducting compliance investigations at retail outlets to determine violations of the restriction on tobacco sales to minors. The program is effective, Anderson told the Oneida County Board of Supervisors during a presentation Tuesday. "The WI Wins program was launched in 2002. Since that time we have seen a reduction in the rate of illegal tobacco sales to minors from 33.7 percent to 7.8 percent in 2005. We're below 20 percent, which is the mandated level to receive funds." An inspection team, usually consisting of an adult escort and two youth, one boy and one girl, visits a retail outlet. One youth attempts to purchase tobacco products while the other observes details of the check such as signage and clerk description. It is important to obtain the clerk's name whenever possible in order to reference him or her in follow-up correspondence with the retailer. In the event of an illegal sale, it is also necessary to obtain the clerk's name for citation and/or legal purposes. Rewards are also used to recognize clerks who do the right thing. These rewards include chamber bucks, phone cards, cinema gift cards and gift certificates. WI Wins provides quarterly reports to the county. In his April 1st to June 30th report Anderson states there were five illegal tobacco sales in Minocqua, four in Rhinelander and one in Pelican Lake. 135 checks were done. Bars and taverns are also investigated. State law allows minors to enter bars and taverns if they are conducting compliance investigations. Of the illegal tobacco sales reported, only one was in a bar. "The bars have been doing a really good job," said Anderson. Wisconsin statutes say that if a clerk, bartender, etc. who commits a violation has not received training, the citation may only be issued to the retailer. If the clerk, bartender, etc. who commits a violation has received training, the citation shall also be issued to the clerk, bartender, etc. Positive reinforcement, known as "Recognition and Reminder" (R&R), is used to promote change in retailer behavior. An example is the use of phone and gift cards as a reward for correct retailer compliance. About 5 to 10 percent of the retailers or clerks do not respond to R&R alone. Citations for non-compliant vendors help make the point that illegal sales of tobacco to minors are a violation of community norms and the state law. As part of a comprehensive program, penalties for violating the law and prosecution of offenders are recommended best practice for enforcing state laws prohibiting the sale of tobacco to minors. Enditem