“We’ve seen firsthand how effective retailer compliance can be—especially last year, when there were no sales to minors. This year’s uptick is a reminder that consistent education and vigilance are essential.”
-Grace VanDerhei, Drug Free Communities Project Coordinator
Recent tobacco compliance checks conducted by the Chippewa County Department of Public Health (CCDPH) reveal a concerning increase in tobacco and nicotine product sales to minors in 2025. These findings mark a reversal from the prior year, when Chippewa County reported zero illegal sales during youth compliance checks conducted through the WI Wins program.
The WI Wins program, a state-supported initiative that began in 2003 and has been active in Chippewa County since 2009, helps communities prevent the sale of tobacco and nicotine products to underage individuals. The program coordinates investigations using trained youth participants, in partnership with law enforcement, to ensure compliance with state and federal laws. Until this year, Chippewa County had not experienced multiple youth tobacco sales violations since 2018.
“This increase in illegal sales is alarming,” said Grace VanDerhei, Drug Free Communities Project Coordinator. “We’ve seen firsthand how effective retailer compliance can be—especially last year, when there were no sales to minors. This year’s uptick is a reminder that consistent education and vigilance are essential.”
Tobacco 21 Law: A Federal Standard
Since December 2019, the federal Tobacco 21 law has made it illegal to sell tobacco or nicotine products to anyone under 21. Retailers are required to check IDs and deny sales to anyone under that age, regardless of state or local laws. CLICK HERE FOR MORE INFORMATION.
