7 retailers sold cigarettes to minors

Sheboygan County retailers have sold cigarettes to minors seven times this year, resulting in three citations, according to local law enforcement and a state anti-tobacco group.

The Wisconsin Wins program had minors attempt 40 purchases in the county, the group said Monday. Local law enforcement reports three citations were issued as a result of the attempts, which were done in cooperation with re:TH!NK, the Lakeshore Tobacco Prevention Network.

The group also attempted purchases in Manitowoc, Door, Kewaunee and Winnebago counties. Sheboygan County's compliance rate of 17.5 percent was worst among the five counties.

"No one wants to see youth getting their hands on tobacco," said Jason Laurin, assistant coordinator of re:TH!NK. "It's great to see that many of our local tobacco retailers are educated and concerned about not selling to minors. But we've still got work to do to help reduce youth access to and use of tobacco products."

Sheboygan County improved over last year, when nine of 62 attempted sales were completed, for a rate of 14.5 percent. That was a huge jump from 2009, when only 3.8 percent of sales were completed.

Three retailers were cited June 23 — Citgo, 211 W. Main St., Glenbeulah; Mobil, 127 Edgewood Ave., Adell; and Citgo, N511 Highway 57, Random Lake, according to the Sheboygan County Sheriff's Department.

Warnings were issued to retailers in Plymouth on March 16 and in Random Lake on June 23. Law enforcement records show no action was taken for violations May 19 in Sheboygan and June 23 in Elkhart Lake.

Laurin said those making the purchases advise law enforcement of all sales to minors.

Manitowoc County retailers sold cigarettes nine times out of 78 attempts, Winnebago County retailers sold twice out of 67 attempts and Door and Kewaunee county retailers had no violations. The group said the non-compliance rate across the five counties was down from 9.6 percent in 2010 to 8.1 percent from January through July of this year.

A press release noted that the Wisconsin Wins investigations may be reduced or eliminated because the state's Tobacco Prevention and Control Program is facing a 22.4 percent cut in funding.