Store owners licensed to sell tobacco are required to verify the age of a purchaser.  A recent store check in Sturgeon Bay using teen volunteers found that 1 out of 3 sales were still made to minors.  Now the Sturgeon Bay Police Department and re:THINK, the Five County Tobacco Prevention Coalition, are working with stores to step up efforts to further reduce sales to those who are underage.  Coalition coordinator Cath Tease says changes in federal law banning tobacco sales to anyone under 21 have created some confusion among store employees.  She adds tobacco industry marketing still makes some illegal sales possible.

Store owners and operators can get free training for employees on how to eliminate sales to minors. Store owners and operators can get free training for employees on how to eliminate sales to minors by logging on to WITobaccoCheck.org.