Minimize contact through tobacco sales ID checks

Along with local community members and businesses, the Chippewa County Department of Public Health (CCDPH) supports a thriving community. The well-being of youth plays an important role in achieving this goal.

It is important the community continues to work together, and share resources and information that help youth live the healthiest lives possible.

The CCDPH and Wisconsin Wins, a statewide initiative designed to reduce youth access to tobacco products, partner with businesses throughout the year, to provide training and resources on how to avoid underage tobacco and nicotine sales. Because of COVID-19, tobacco retailers and employees are faced with unique physical distancing challenges.

Tobacco retailers and their employees can use the following tips to help minimize risk while conducting business:

• Maintain physical distancing. Ask customers to show IDs through plastic or glass partitions, or by placing them on the counter face up.

• Clean hands often with soap and water for 20 seconds, or hand sanitizer that contains at least 60 percent alcohol.

• Place ID barcode scanners or smartphone apps on the customer side of the sales counter for customers to complete self-scans.

• Customers with cloth face coverings are similar to ones with a beard. Confirm other physical information like height, weight, eye color and hair color.

When selling tobacco products, remember federal law prohibits the sale of any tobacco product – including cigarettes, cigars and e-cigarettes – to anyone under 21. If the date under the customer’s ID photo is in the future and they are not 21, refuse the sale.

WI Wins provides free online training to tobacco retailers at WITobaccoCheck.org. The site provides quick study guides to help employees learn the basics and a quiz with a certificate of completion.