1 in 5 Milwaukee Retailers Are Selling Tobacco to Youth

MILWAUKEE– One in five tobacco retailers in the City of Milwaukee sold tobacco or nicotine products to underage youth during 2019 compliance checks, according to newly released data from Wisconsin Wins. The 21% rate of sale in Milwaukee was a decrease from the previous year (25%), although the ten-year trend is up from 11% in 2009. Youth access rate in Milwaukee peaked in 2015 at 27%.  Wisconsin Wins Access Rate Trend.

During the Wisconsin Wins compliance checks, minors attempt to purchase tobacco or nicotine products, including cheap, flavored cigarillos, cigarettes, e-cigarettes, or single cigarettes. If they are successful, a Milwaukee police officer working with the minors writes a ticket on the spot or retailers can choose to sign up for the MARTS program (Milwaukee Achieving Responsible Tobacco Sales) to avoid citation.
   ...more

Ken Notes: This is easy to stop. Create a team of one undercover officer and one youth interested in law enforcement. Preform a recorded sting operation then bring all the guilty owners in and remind them the ability to sell tobacco is a privilege not a right. Your MARTS program is on the right track here. Just make the offending owners appear in person.

Forgive the first ticket after appearance 2nd violation costs money third revokes license. Ask the press to report on your efforts and I promise the problem will be solved in weeks.