Up North Prevention Works to Reduce Youth Tobacco Sales in Northern Michigan

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 that prohibit the sale and distribution of tobacco to anyone under the age of 21.

To help reach state and federal goals of reducing tobacco and nicotine sales to underage youth, resource packets will be provided to Northern Michigan tobacco retailers. These packets include current sales information, prevention strategies, and signage to help prevent underage sales. Up North Prevention staff also provide information and educational materials at community events, schools, parent groups, and retail outlets that sell nicotine products.

In March and April, compliance checks will be conducted throughout Michigan. The Synar Amendment requires each state to maintain a retailer violation rate of less than 20% in order to receive the state’s full allotment of federal block grant funds for substance use disorder treatment and prevention. We commend retailers who consistently check I.D.s and refuse to sell nicotine products to underage youth.

Ongoing compliance checks are conducted on a random basis by various state and federal entities at retailers within our region. These checks involve underage youth and are used as both a preventive and compliance measure. Retailers that sell nicotine products are urged to carefully check I.D.s to ensure every sale complies with the law.

For individuals under the age of 21, the Michigan Secretary of State issues a vertical Michigan driver’s license or identification card. The date the individual turns 21 is printed on the front of the license in bright red text, allowing clerks to quickly determine whether a customer is old enough to purchase tobacco or e-cigarette products.

Tobacco remains the number one cause of preventable death in the United States. In Michigan, 90% of adults who are addicted to nicotine 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, putting them at risk for a lifetime of addiction. The short-term goal of Synar compliance checks is to determine how many retailers are illegally selling tobacco or nicotine products to minors. Our long-term goal is to raise awareness of youth nicotine use, reduce illegal sales to minors, and decrease the number of young people who become addicted to nicotine.

Questions about the Youth Tobacco Act can be directed to Up North Prevention at 231-261-8434.