Wisconsin's Rate of Tobacco Sales to Minors Drop Again

For the eighth year in a row, illegal tobacco sales to minors in Wisconsin fall below the Federal target rate, Governor Doyle announced today.

According to a press release by the Department of Health Services, the noncompliance rate fell from 5.7 percent in 2009 to 4.7 percent in 2010. The release says this decline is largely a result of youth prevention efforts in our state.

 '"In Wisconsin, we are working hard to protect our kids from tobacco,"' said Governor Doyle in the release from DHS. '"This year's compliance survey is direct evidence that funding a comprehensive tobacco prevention program pays off. Credit also goes to retailers for helping to keep tobacco out of the hands of minors."'

Every state must stay below the 20 percent Federal target or they risk losing 40 percent of their federal grant funding for substance abuse prevention and treatment. In Wisconsin that would be around $10 million.

Read the full press release from DHS on WisPolitics here.

Read The Associated Press article about the decrease here.