Waushara County Health News

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Waushara County

Tobacco Compliance Checks to Resume

After a hiatus due to the COVID-19 pandemic, tobacco compliance checks will soon resume in Waushara County.  The Waushara County Health Department is a participant of the WI Wins program.  The goal of this program is to prevent youth tobacco use by reducing initiation opportunities. One way the program strives to keep tobacco out of the hands of youth is by conducting tobacco retailer compliance checks.  These checks ensure clerks are not selling tobacco products to anyone under the age of 21.

We all benefit when retail employees know the law.  Better trained clerks mean fewer sales to minors - which results in fewer fines for clerks and retailers.  Penalties can be as high as $500 for retailers who sell tobacco illegally to those under 21.  WITobaccoCheck.org is a free online training that saves tobacco retailers time and money, while ensuring clerks know tobacco laws.

 

Preventing youth ac-cess to tobacco helps prevent youth smoking.  It is critically important to reach young people before they become addicted to tobacco.  Reducing youth access to tobacco products is an important strategy in preventing tobacco use as a whole.

 

Tobacco users ready to quit can call 1-800-QUIT NOW (784-8669) for free help. Tobacco users enrolled in Medicaid can also talk to their doctor about the free support available through the Medicaid cessation benefit.

To learn more about the WI Wins program, visit wiwins.org.

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