Wisconsin is going smoke-free: What’s next?
Wisconsin is going smoke-free! Eighty-six legislators voted in favor of workers’ health and for safer workplace environments, including restaurants and bars. And that means bartenders, wait staff, musicians and others will experience fewer colds, runny noses, itchy eyes and other signs of respiratory distress, and more importantly, fewer cases of cancer, emphysema, heart attacks and other horrible diseases caused by exposure to secondhand smoke. All are indisputable benefits of smoke-free workplaces.
It’s been a long and important battle for SmokeFree Wisconsin, an organization that has worked with local communities and state leaders to bring smoke-free air to Wisconsin citizens for the past nine years. But now that Wisconsin is the 27th state to pass a smoke-free workplace law, what’s next for SmokeFree Wisconsin? Plenty.
We have and will continue to focus on policies that we know reduce youth tobacco use—such as raising the price of cigarettes and other tobacco products through higher taxes and funding prevention and educational programs. While the tobacco industry continues to target and addict youth by developing and marketing candy-flavored products that hook kids on new types of tobacco products, we must step up efforts to prevent tobacco addiction.
We already have a successful and proven tobacco control program in place. There is a strong correlation between the beginning of the program and the 40 percent reduction in youth smoking over the course of the past seven years. If we discontinue or reduce tobacco control programs targeted at youth, smoking rates will climb back up. And the cycle of addiction, disease and death will continue to devastate Wisconsin families.
Not only do kids need support, but adult smokers do, as well.
The state-sponsored tobacco Quitline has received tens of thousands of calls from smokers who want to quit tobacco for good, and we simply must do everything we can to help the one million tobacco users in this state.
Our work is not done, and our task will not be easy. But what’s at stake is staggering:
Tobacco is the biggest cause of preventable, premature death and disease in Wisconsin, claiming nearly 8,000 lives every year. And the cost to Wisconsin citizens to treat tobacco-related diseases is real (to the tune of more than $2 billion each year). We all pay these costs in the form of higher health insurance premiums, so it’s in everyone’s interest to reduce the number of smokers in our state.
So today, let’s celebrate Wisconsin becoming a smoke-free state—and thank the 86 forward-thinking legislators who chose health and prevention by voting for a smoke-free Wisconsin. They will go down in history as leaders who rescued many thousands of our citizens from premature death and illness.
But tomorrow, here at SmokeFree Wisconsin, we’ll roll up our sleeves and continue our daily battle against tobacco—and its devastating path of destruction.
Maureen Busalacchi is executive director of SmokeFree Wisconsin, phone (608) 268-2620; e-mail mbusalacchi@smokefreewi.org.
Jun 22, 2009 at 6:08 a.m.
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"Now all the people that can't stand cigarette smoke can also go to the tavern, get all liquored up, and climb in behind the wheel for the drive home at 2:00 a.m.
Or mabey they'll stop off and get some artery clogging fast food before they wrap their vehicle around a telephone pole in a drunken stupor, after spending four hours on a barstool celebrating their smoking ban victory.....
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Damn right, and ya know what, It was thier choice to do that, every decision was made by them, not some smoker down the bar polluting the air.
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By the way, if your trying to infer that a smoking ban has any relationship on drunk driving, Im sad for you.
Jun 22, 2009 at 12:06 a.m.
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Wesgonsin....4 hours???? I plan on putting in at least twice that celebrating on my bar stool:) Finally the bars will be smoke free......thank you legislators for finally listening to those who put you in office!!!
Jun 2, 2009 at 11:07 p.m.
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Now all the people that can't stand cigarette smoke can also go to the tavern, get all liquored up, and climb in behind the wheel for the drive home at 2:00 a.m.
Or mabey they'll stop off and get some artery clogging fast food before they wrap their vehicle around a telephone pole in a drunken stupor, after spending four hours on a barstool celebrating their smoking ban victory.....
Jun 2, 2009 at 8:44 p.m.
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Restrictions just keep coming don't they? Government officials think they know exactly how the world should run, first they restrict the parental rights now they restrict what you can and can't do to your OWN body when and where you want. There are certain places you go where there are certain things that are expected...oh well, pretty soon all is going to self com-bust and we will see where that leaves us. It's pretty much the evolution of another civil war in the making, they claim we are the land of the free, but we are exactly NOT that. We are pretty much deteriorating as we speak. See where restricting the parental rights got us all? It got us all with a bunch of 911 smarta$$ kids who's parents give up and we all know where that is going. I am pretty much rambling on right now because this is Sooo frustrating, but I am sure some of you will get where I am coming from. I agree smoking doesn't belong in certain places, but some things just go hand and hand. Just as, religion and church go together - smoking and bars go together. Well, I want to go to church, but I don't want to be part of a religious cult, so should I demand we get rid of the religion so I can go to church? Where does this junk end??? Pretty much with the demise of our earth. She can and WILL take care of herself, we are only passengers along for a ride....when she sees fit, our smug little existence will be over...all this going green crap is just a bit too late.
Jun 2, 2009 at 8:18 p.m.
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QUESTION:
Would any other work environment be able to subject its employees to the dangerous and deadly toxic fumes that cigarettes produce?
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ANSWER:
Ever been in a foundry or welding shop? How about the sewer workers?
May 28, 2009 at 12:23 p.m.
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QUESTION:
Would any other work environment be able to subject its employees to the dangerous and deadly toxic fumes that cigarettes produce?
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ANSWER:
Not in 2009.
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QUESTION:
Why are bars different?
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ANSWER:
Some people are selfish.
May 27, 2009 at 9:08 p.m.
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keithgr-You put alot of effort into a blog about nasty smokers. Put that energy into something that matters.
May 27, 2009 at 6:30 p.m.
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-Quote- "They pay confiscatory taxes and on average do not live to the advanced ages that require huge end of life care expenditures or retirement benefits. This being said, do we really believe that banning smoking in bars will "rescue" thousands of our citizens?" - Quote-
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Really? really? are you seriously making the argument that smoking is good because it kills people and brings down our end age health care costs?
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Let me ask you one question, if this smoking ban saves 1 person, just one person from contracting cancer from second hand smoke, is it still a bad law in your eyes?
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1 person spared the lifelong problems, even if it is just 1 would make it 110% worth it. I challenge you to convince me otherwise.
May 27, 2009 at 6:24 p.m.
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-Quote- "Secondhand smoke is unpleasent and smells bad...that is the sole reason for these prohibitions.
As long as fat people don't smell too bad, and drinkers don't drive...I believe our Nanny State will continue to tolerate them for a little while longer." - Quote
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You are missing the whole point of this age old debate, 2nd hand smoke is not just unpleasant and bad smelling, IT CAUSES CANCER AND KILLS PEOPLE, thousands of studies and billions of dollars have confirmed this. Granted so does drunk driving but ya know what, its ALREADY illegal, it is a crime, just like murder, or beating your children. Smoking up until this point is not yet it kills hundreds of thousands a year, people who dont smoke, just like people who dont drink get killed by drunk drivers, thats why it is a crime, like smoking in public finally will be.
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You smokers can continue to stand behind your "dont go to bars if you dont like it" mentality but it wont hold water, go smoke in your own house, guess what I will FINALLY be able to take my kids to a bowling alley without subjecting them to cancer.
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Additionally ive been to bars in smoking banned states, just try Madison for one, it doesnt hurt the business one bit, Its kind of nice not smelling like an ash tray at the end of the night. If you must have it bring a coat and stand outside in 0 degree weather and get your fix, no sympathy here.
May 27, 2009 at 6:01 p.m.
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Cigarettes are a soft target. Smokers buckle politically like wet cardboard. There is something satisfying about lording over those that are weaker than us non-smokers. Cigarette smokers have no power. They huddle in doorways in the icy wind like war refugees while they steal a break from their non-benefit, part-time job. They are relegated to the status of crack adddicts. They should be pushed to the underground culture of society where they belong. We should embrace that we can crush them socially and it affords us power to be arrogant and get away with it - and we like that. It is about the only thing in society we seem able to influence any more. And, smokers are the only group left it is politically correct to openly torment. Soon the courts will relent and we will be able to extend our will into their cars as they bring their kids to school. Police dogs will sniff out the cigs from under their seats. And then will come the coup de grace to smokers. We will convince courts to allow militarized police to enter the houses of suspected smokers under the guise saving the children and pets and grandmother from smoke. The violators will be marched off to prison in the consummate perp walk.
I am concerned however, that once cigarettes smokers are all gone, or in prison where the likes of them really belong, and the last lung cancer wing of the hospital is turned into a compound for old people with little health care, we will have to find another class of people to lord over and that search may be fatiguing.
Perhaps we will pause for a bit before we besiege gun owners; greasy hamburger eaters; non-helmet wearing anarchists; people who do not pick up the dogs droppings; and, any one else we deem as a soft target. Pause, Naaa, tomorrow we start early on the greasy-fingered hamburger eating rabble. Total nanny victory is close, I can smell it like the waft of cigarette smoke in the non-smoking area rest rooms.
Tongue-so-ever-planted-in-cheek - Bob Keith
cooldadiomedia.com
May 27, 2009 at 4:44 p.m.
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Oh yes they are against smoking...they really don't want it to occur anywhere, your home, hotel room or apartment. The health care cost argument is bogus as smokers are a relative "bargain" to the state. They pay confiscatory taxes and on average do not live to the advanced ages that require huge end of life care expenditures or retirement benefits. This being said, do we really believe that banning smoking in bars will "rescue" thousands of our citizens? Secondhand smoke is unpleasent and smells bad...that is the sole reason for these prohibitions.
As long as fat people don't smell too bad, and drinkers don't drive...I believe our Nanny State will continue to tolerate them for a little while longer.
May 27, 2009 at 4:35 p.m.
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Quote - "please go after obsesity next." - Quote
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Obsesity of what? forcing others to inhale your smoke, your habit is LEGAL yes, but why do i have to experience it? now i dont.
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Im sure what you meant was OBESITY or being fat, but last time i checked 20 fat people in a bar wont give me cancer like your smoke will =)
May 27, 2009 at 4:14 p.m.
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They're not saying that you can't smoke in your own home--they're just against it it public places. I agree 100%--I get a headache from the excess smoke when I spend too much time around smokers. I can't say I've ever gotten a headache or felt sick when I've hung out with obese people. Smokers just need to face the fact that the majority has spoken--take your habit outside or keep it in your personal space......Thanks!
May 26, 2009 at 7:36 p.m.
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I think this article might get its message across better if it used some scarier words.Maybe words like cancer,heart attacks,horrible diseases,addiction,death,devastation,desruction,.....oh wait.
And still smokers are demonized for their LEGAL habit.For all you morally superior people and the 86 "forward-thinking legislators " please go after obsesity next.I can't wait to read those articles.
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