DARLINGTON - Lafayette County Health Department recently completed 78 compliance checks of establishments that hold tobacco licenses under the WiWins Program. State law forbids the sale of tobacco products to anyone under the age of 18.
During 2007, only on one visit was a clerk willing to sell to the minor. The percentage of 1.85 percent of retailers selling to a minor is much lower than the 2006 rate of 20 percent.
"The decrease can be attributed to businesses educating and training their staff to ask for photo ID's, helping their staff to develop strategies to handle disrespectful youth, and teaching clerks how to dampen complaints of adults who must produce identification," said Lee Gill, RN, PHN/WIWINS Coordinator.
Most licensed tobacco retailers frequently have new staff. That makes the progression of WIWINS an ongoing process.
When businesses do the right thing, Lafayete County receives federal grant dollars that are used to treat substance abuse. Counties with 20 percent or less of its retailers engaging in illegal sales are within the federal guidelines.
The lower the numbers the more retailers and clerks that are doing the right thing. Counties with rates lower than 10 percent of tobacco sales like Lafayette County are more likely to have an impact on reduced tobacco use and addiction by Wisconsin Youth.
A compliance check is when a trained minor attempts to purchase tobacco products from an establishment with an adult outside the premises to assist if needed. When clerks don't sell, the business is entered in a drawing to receive gift certificates and recognition for doing the right thing.
In 2007, the following non-selling merchants winning the drawings to receive community bucks in Darlington and Shullsburg were Fayette Tavern, Zephyr Depot, Miner Towne Mart and Brysons.
The program empowers young people to make a real difference while giving positive recognition to tobacco retailers who do the right thing. The outstanding performance of Lafayette County retailers in 2007 represents merchants and youth working together to say that not selling to minors is THE norm.
For more information about the Wisconsin Wins Program, contact Gill at the Lafayette County Health Department or Theresa Burgess at the Lafayette County Sheriff's Department.
During 2007, only on one visit was a clerk willing to sell to the minor. The percentage of 1.85 percent of retailers selling to a minor is much lower than the 2006 rate of 20 percent.
"The decrease can be attributed to businesses educating and training their staff to ask for photo ID's, helping their staff to develop strategies to handle disrespectful youth, and teaching clerks how to dampen complaints of adults who must produce identification," said Lee Gill, RN, PHN/WIWINS Coordinator.
Most licensed tobacco retailers frequently have new staff. That makes the progression of WIWINS an ongoing process.
When businesses do the right thing, Lafayete County receives federal grant dollars that are used to treat substance abuse. Counties with 20 percent or less of its retailers engaging in illegal sales are within the federal guidelines.
The lower the numbers the more retailers and clerks that are doing the right thing. Counties with rates lower than 10 percent of tobacco sales like Lafayette County are more likely to have an impact on reduced tobacco use and addiction by Wisconsin Youth.
A compliance check is when a trained minor attempts to purchase tobacco products from an establishment with an adult outside the premises to assist if needed. When clerks don't sell, the business is entered in a drawing to receive gift certificates and recognition for doing the right thing.
In 2007, the following non-selling merchants winning the drawings to receive community bucks in Darlington and Shullsburg were Fayette Tavern, Zephyr Depot, Miner Towne Mart and Brysons.
The program empowers young people to make a real difference while giving positive recognition to tobacco retailers who do the right thing. The outstanding performance of Lafayette County retailers in 2007 represents merchants and youth working together to say that not selling to minors is THE norm.
For more information about the Wisconsin Wins Program, contact Gill at the Lafayette County Health Department or Theresa Burgess at the Lafayette County Sheriff's Department.
