Wisconsin State Statute 134.66 prohibits the sale of tobacco products to anyone under the age of 18 and requires that staff who engage in tobacco sales be properly trained. The Wisconsin Wins program offers a free online training program for tobacco retailers and their employees at SmokeCheck.org.

SmokeCheck.org offers free information on Wisconsin’s tobacco laws, checking identification, communicating with customers and a host of other useful tools. Clerks are asked to read information on the tobacco laws and sales and the statewide partnership, take a short exam and upon passing, receive a state-approved training certificate. SmokeCheck.org benefits retailers by saving them time and money, avoiding fines and offers other resources from Wisconsin Wins at no cost.

In 2001, the illegal sale rate of tobacco products to minors in Wisconsin was over 33 percent and by 2012, the average non-compliance rate for the state of Wisconsin was only 5.4 percent. Illegal sales of tobacco products have been dramatically reduced due largely in part to the programs offered to educate and implement legal tobacco sales policies. For more information about the training program, call Kyla Waksmonski, assistant tobacco control coordinator at (715) 369-6114.