Up North Prevention is working to restrict tobacco sales to minors under the Synar Amendment which was enacted as part of the Federal Public Health Service Act. This program requires states to implement laws and enforcement programs for prohibiting the sale and distribution of tobacco to anyone under the age of 21.
For us to reach the state and federal goals of curtailing sales of tobacco/nicotine to underage youth, resource packets were sent to all Michigan tobacco retailers with current sale information, strategies and signage to help prevent underage sales. Up North Prevention staff work to provide information and educational materials at community events, schools, parent groups, as well as retail outlets that sell tobacco products.
Recently tobacco compliance checks were conducted throughout Michigan. The 21-county area of Northern Michigan had a 96% compliance rate; the 14 Up North Prevention counties had a 100% compliance rate. We commend those retailers who checked for I.D.s and refused to sell tobacco to the underage youth.
Ongoing compliance checks are conducted on a random basis to retailers within our region by various state and federal entities. These checks are conducted with underage youth and are used as a preventive measure as well as a compliance measure. Stores that sell tobacco products are urged to carefully check I.D.s to ensure that each sale is in compliance with the law.
For anyone under the age of 21, Michigan Secretary of State issues a vertical Michigan driver’s license with the date the person will turn 21 on the front of the license in bright red print. This allows a clerk to determine quickly if the customer is old enough to purchase tobacco or e-cigarette products.
Tobacco is the number one cause of preventable death in our country. In Michigan, 90% of adults who are addicted to tobacco products began using them before the age of 18. According to the State of Michigan, 20% of Michigan high school students currently smoke or vape, possibly heading for a lifetime of addiction. The short term goal of the Synar compliance checks is to determine how many retailers are illegally selling tobacco/nicotine products to minors. Our long term goal is to create awareness of the youth tobacco problem, reduce the sales of tobacco products to minors and decrease our the number of underage youth that become addicted to nicotine.
Any questions about the Youth Tobacco Act can be directed to Up North Prevention at 231-261-8434.
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