NEWSRELEASE
TO: Eastern U.P. Media
FROM: Julie. Trotter, Tobacco-Free Projects Coordinator
Chippewa County Substance Abuse Prevention
Coalition Coordinator
SUBJECT: Youth Tobacco Act Compliance Checks: UP Results
CONTACT: Julie. Trotter, 635-3636
DATE: September 28, 2006
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
According to a recent State survey, one in four high school aged children in the state have used tobacco products in the past 30days. The rate while high has dropped nearly every year for the past decade. One reason for this decline is that cigarettes are getting more difficult for youth to obtain.
This summer, an Upper Peninsula survey called the Youth Tobacco Act Compliance Check program was conducted to determine the extent of tobacco sales to minors. Twenty retailers were visited in the U.P. as part of a random sample statewide tobacco retailer survey that is mandated by the requirements of the Synar Amendment to determine the rate of compliance of the Youth Tobacco Act.
The Youth Tobacco Act states that it is illegal to sell tobacco products to anyone under the age of 18. It is also illegal for anyone under 18 to purchase tobacco products.
Tobacco is the number one cause of preventable death in our society. Each year thousands of teens become addicted to tobacco. The short-term goal of this project is to determine how many retailers are illegally selling tobacco to minors. The long-term goal is to create awareness of the youth tobacco use problem and reduce the sales of tobacco to minors, therefore preventing some of our children from beginning lifetime addiction to tobacco.
In Chippewa County, 3 of 5 retailers were not incompliance with the Youth Tobacco Act this past summer. Julie Trotter, Coordinator of the Chippewa Co Substance Abuse Prevention Coalition states, “In2003 and 2004, we had 100% compliance of this law from our retailers (no checks were conducted in 2005 in Chippewa Co). I was surprised to hear the resultsfrom2006.
Although the results are from a random sample of only a few tobacco retailers in Chippewa Co, this information clearly indicates that more retailer education is needed regarding the requirements of the Youth Tobacco Act and carding people who are purchasing tobacco and/or alcohol.”
Merrilee Keller from Pathways/Northcare Network, who sub-contracts for the SYNAR Amendment work, states that the overall, regional sales rate was 20%. "We only had three retailers sell out of 18 that we rechecked. The three were bars on the eastern end of the Peninsula.” said Keller. "We’re not sure if it’s just a case that bars don’t usually have kids come in to buy cigarettes and are not looking for the 18year old age on the vertical license. We will be contacting more bars with our education initiative talking to them about their responsibilities to not sell tobacco products to minors." Keller said.
As of July 1, 2003, Michigan began issuing a vertical driver’s license to young people under the age of 21. The distinctive shape of the new vertical driver’s license instantly alerts retailers that the cardholder is not of legal age to purchase alcohol or tobacco. "We’re pleased that most retailers take their responsibility seriously and make sure they do their part in insuring that our young people do not have easy access to alcohol or tobacco." concludes Keller.
For more information about the Youth Tobacco Act, please contact the Michigan Department of Community Health at 517 335-8386 or the Chippewa Co Health Department at 635-3636. Tobacco retailer education kits, which include the Youth Tobacco Act required signage, are available by calling the Michigan Resource Center at 1 800 537 5666.