Underage sales of tobacco down, but numbers are still high

Fewer tobacco and vape retailers sold products to underage consumers last year. According to the Wisconsin Department of Health Services, the annual data shows a decline in underage sales rate from 13.6% in 2023 to 11.8% in 2024. Those rates are determined from a statewide survey that assesses how often violations in tobacco sales occur. The majority of violations happened at tobacco and vape shops, who sold to underage customers at a rate of 30%. Gas stations sold at a rate of 11.8%. Though there was a decline in 2024, the rates are still nearly double what the survey showed from 2019.