Clark County Sees Drop in Tobacco Sales to Minors, Part 2
Wednesday, December 31st, 2014 -- 10:14 AM
-Businesses in Clark County have seen a tremendous drop in the sale of tobacco to minors this past year due to, in part, the Wisconsin WINS Program.Laura Betthauser, with the Clark County Health Department, was in charge of the program this year. Laura took an underage volunteer to various businesses that sell tobacco around Clark County and had the minor see if the business would allow them to purchase tobacco. The results found that only 5% sold to the minor in 2014 compared to 24% in 2013.
Clark County has been participating in the Program for a while.
"I know that the Wisconsin WINS Program has been around since 2002," said Laura, "and I'm not sure if Clark County has been participating the whole time, but I know, at least, the past three years, they have been participating in this program."
The volunteer for the program is basically chosen by word of mouth.
Laura said, "I inherited this program from one of the other nurses and we just do word of mouth. We ask our minor from the previous year if they have a good candidate in mind that would be willing to do this for us. It is volunteer."
Laura hopes Clark County residents will take the time to thank local retailers for helping reduce smoking among minors.
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