The Sconi

The Wisconsin Department of Health Services (DHS) disclosed a reduction in the sale of tobacco and vape products to underage consumers in 2024. According to the Synar Survey, the retailer violation rate decreased from 13.6% in 2023 to 11.8% in 2024. However, this reflects an increase from 2019 when the rate was 5.5%, reaching a peak of 14.1% in 2021.

State Health Officer Paula Tran emphasized the importance of ongoing preventive efforts, noting, "We are glad to see a decline in overall sales of tobacco and vape products to underage kids, yet the rate remains too high." She highlighted that "more than 80% of adult smokers started before the age of 18, and about 95% of them before turning 21."

Following a federal law change in 2019 raising the legal sales age to 21, the most recent surveys have monitored sales to those under this age. With Wisconsin's state law still unmatched to the federal regulation, enforcement continues to face challenges.

In response, DHS introduced the Tobacco 21 public awareness campaign in 2022, stressing that 21 is the minimum legal sales age. Despite these efforts, tobacco and vape shops reported the highest rates of underage sales at 30%, compared to gas stations and other retail outlets reporting rates of 11.8% and 10.8%, respectively.

Vicki Huntington, Section Manager of the DHS Commercial Tobacco Prevention and Treatment Program, noted the significance of local actions, stating, "We see more Wisconsin communities stepping up to take positive actions that protect young people in their communities."

Furthermore, developing regulations that mandate placing flavored cigarillos behind the counter has been suggested as a potential positive impact on youth health.

Retailers are offered free training through witobaccocheck.org to align with the Tobacco 21 sales law, and free support for quitting tobacco is available at WIQuit.org or via 1-800-QUIT-NOW.