Wisconsin WINS – What is it?

 Local adult and youth teams conduct compliance investigations at tobacco retailers in your community.If clerks refuse to sell tobacco or the vending machines cannot be accessed by teens, then clerks are given recognition and incentives thanking them.Reminders are given out for illegal sales, with citations for repeat offenders.

Learn more at www.wisconsinwins.com

What You Can Do – Tobacco Retailers

Your local Wisconsin WINS coordinator can help you with stickers for vending machines, window clings, brochures for staff and other services that will help assure that your employees are doing the right thing – as do over 90% of stores in the state.Don’t risk the fines.For more information contact your local Wisconsin WINS coordinator at heather.stenberg@co.columbia.wi.us.

Why Are Compliance Rates Necessary for Wisconsin?

Wisconsin, as well as other states, is required to meet the annual goal of LESS than 20% sales to youth (over 80% compliance) to continue receiving yearly federal funding for drug prevention programs, roughly $10 million each year for Wisconsin prevention programs.

What Are Our Local Compliance Rates?

For 2006, Columbia County had a non-compliant rate (those that attempted or did sell to youth) of 23% which is down from 29% in 2003.

Marquette County has a non-compliant rate of 15% down from 24% in 2004.

Overall, Wisconsin had a non-compliant rate of 5.5%, well below the required 20%.

How Can You Get Involved?

If you are between 15 and 17 years old and want to help keep tobacco products out of kids’ hands, contact Heather Stenberg at 608/742-9227 to learn more.