A check by state health officials over the past year found an uptick in the number of retailers illegally selling tobacco to minors. The Department of Community Health Survey found 18 percent of retailers sold tobacco to minors. That’s a seven percentage point jump from two years ago.
Jennifer Smith of the Department of Community Health says the state plans to step up education and enforcement efforts.
“That’s something that we are looking at with Michigan State Police and their tobacco enforcement program,” she said. “That’s something we hope will help increase that compliance rate in Michigan.”
Smith says the state plans to contact every tobacco retailer to remind them of the consequences of selling to minors. She says it’s important for the state to make sure at least 80 percent of retailers comply with tobacco laws, or Michigan loses federal funds to combat substance abuse.
