Wisconsin WINS

96% of teens who've used e-cigarettes tried them before age 13. Vaping is the use of e-cigarettes or vapes, which can contain tobacco, nicotine, and other highly addictive substances. Nicotine is highly addictive and can have harmful effects on the young brain. Nicotine can also worsen symptoms of anxiety, depression, and ADHD.

The Wisconsin WINS campaign is a statewide campaign that works to decrease youth access to tobacco products and help retailers avoid fines. The Wisconsin Department of Health Services contracts with local partners to conduct investigations into tobacco sales. The program also provides retailers education and training resources. The program congratulates clerks who do not sell tobacco to youth and educates those who do.

The federal tobacco 21 law requires an individual to be 21 years old to purchase any tobacco product. All retailers should check a valid photo ID before selling a tobacco product to make sure they are selling to someone of legal age. This is also important because most tobacco users start sometime during their teen years. Wisconsin WINS investigations can happen at any time throughout the year, are unannounced, have local law enforcement involvement, and are authorized by Wisconsin State Statue 254.916.

Retailers can use the Wisconsin WINS free online tool to learn the facts about Wisconsin’s tobacco sales laws. By knowing the facts, you can avoid mistakes and expensive citations for you and your business. Simply visit www.WITobaccoCheck.org to take a state approved training. The training is free, available in multiple languages, will allow you to create a store account to help your employees, and gives a certificate upon completion of the training.

Parents, guardians, and other adults who want to help the young people in their lives quit vaping can learn more at www.dhs.wisconsin.gov/vapefree or at www.TobaccoIsChanging.com.

Teens who want to quit vaping can text “VAPEFREE” to 873373 to access a free texting service that offers one-on-one support from a trained coach, a roadmap for their quit journey, and interactive content like games and videos.

For more information about the Wisconsin WINS campaign visit: www.wiwins.org.

Jackson County: Healthy People, Strong Community