Nearly one-third of retailers sold tobacco to kids

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The Superior Police Department has completed the Wisconsin WINS tobacco compliance checks for 2009. According to Capt. Matt Markon of the Superior Police Department, 18 of 56 retailers checked sold tobacco to a person under 18 years old.

During the fall months, the Superior Police Department completed the funded tobacco compliance checks through the Wisconsin WINS Campaign. These compliance checks included rechecks of 16 retailers who sold tobacco products to an underage person during the compliance checks conducted during the summer months of 2009. Four of these retail outlets sold tobacco products to the underage buyer for a second time. Two retail outlets being checked for the first time this year sold to the underage buyer.

The police department is responsible for conducting compliance checks in Superior with funding made available by the Wisconsin WINS program. The local program is administered by the Douglas County Health Department.

Police officers supervise volunteers who younger than legal age to buy tobacco products. The Superior Police Department was funded for and completed 56 compliance checks. Eighteen retail outlets sold tobacco products to the underage volunteer. Those retailers were issued city ordinance citations for the violations. The violation carries a $169 fine, if convicted.

Wisconsin state statute requires that anyone selling tobacco products be provided with training regarding the sale of tobacco. At the completion of the training, a training acknowledgement must be signed and kept on file. The Wisconsin Department of Health Services approved training is at www.smokecheck.org. Once completed, this training provides an electronic copy of the acknowledgement form.

Tags: news, superior, crime, tobacco