SASKATCHEWAN TOBACCO RETAILERS PREVENTING SALES TO MINORS

Saskatchewan tobacco retailers are among the best in Canada when it comes to preventing tobacco sales to young people under 18 years of age, and a new training package will improve upon those efforts.

According to an annual study commissioned by Health Canada, Saskatchewan's compliance rate for 2002 was 93 per cent, compared to the national average of 71 per cent.

"I commend Saskatchewan retailers for refusing to sell tobacco products to minors," Health Minister John Nilson said. "We have higher-than-average youth smoking rates in this province. Tobacco is highly addictive, and one of every two long-term smokers will die as a result of a smoking-related disease. These efforts by our retailers will go a long way toward preventing young people from smoking."

"This is important data on efforts to curb smoking," Federal Health Minister Anne McLellan said. "Tobacco use in Canada has declined in recent years, and we must continue to ensure that tobacco strategies are in place to reduce tobacco use among Canadians."

The newly developed Retailer Toolkit for Tobacco Sales to Prevent Tobacco Sales to Minors provides further support to retailers in adhering to federal and provincial tobacco laws.

"The retailer toolkit is another significant step in our government's ongoing commitment to protecting the health of Saskatchewan youth," Nilson said. "The goal of the province's Tobacco Control Act is to keep young people from smoking, to reduce their exposure to second-hand smoke, and to de-normalize tobacco use, by making it the exception rather than the rule. By working together, we can protect the health of our youth."

A collaborative initiative by Saskatchewan Health, Health Canada, and Saskatchewan tobacco retailer representatives, the Retailer Toolkit was adapted from the existing Health Canada one to include Saskatchewan content. It contains:

• definitions of the federal and provincial tobacco laws, particularly sales, advertising and display provisions;
• information on tobacco-related health issues;
• ID requirements and tips on saying no to customers without proper ID; and
• employee training and examinations to test employees once training is complete.

Young people and tobacco use will also be a focus when the World Health Organization promotes World No Tobacco Day on May 31st, 2003. This year's theme highlights the depiction of tobacco use within the fashion and film industries, and the negative impact this has on the rate of tobacco use among youth.

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For More Information, Contact:

Vanessa Gooliaff Beaupre Health Regina Phone: (306)787-4083