Wisconsin smokers feel offended by smoking ban

Published on June 8, 2009 8:42 AM

Recently signed Wisconsin ban on indoor smoking that is supposed to enter into force next summer has already triggered annoyance of local smokers and business owners, however many people feel the ban was inevitable.

According to the ban, smoking is forbidden in the majority of bars, cafes, work places, restaurants and other public buildings. Individuals who would be caught on smoking in prohibited places will be subject to a fine of $250. Restaurant owners or managers who would not prevent people from smoking will have to pay a $100 fine. As regards the city administrations, they will have no right to prohibit outdoor smoking and call off licenses because of smoking ban violation.

Larry Gilbert, owner of La Bamba bar in La Crosse admits that he hates government to tell him what to do, since business owners should have the right to make such decisions by their own.

Public Health officials and anti-smoking groups, among which were Tobacco-Free Kids and American Heart Society have been doing their best for several years to obtain enough support from senators to push the ban forward. Smoking ban opponents, led by the Wisconsin Tavern League and Wisconsin Tourism and Hoteliers Association, effectively obstructed the proposal several times, citing economic concerns as the state restaurants would be hurt inevitably by the ban, because many taverns were oriented mainly on smokers.

Judd Reynolds, spokesman of the Tavern League and a La Crosse resident, claimed the League was against the ban from the very beginning.

“It should be regarded as private property right matter,” Reynolds declared. “cigarettes are still legal and we should be entitled to permit them in our establishments since we pay money to run it.”

Even though the major part of business owners predict inevitable sales declines caused by the indoor smoking ban in addition to the unexpected expenses for launching outside patios, Tobacco-Free Kids Wisconsin director Jason Richardson said that he has been confident that the situation would be contrary as it contribute to increase of profits.  

“Restaurant owners will see very soon that they patrons will come back and new customers will also get attracted to the place that went smoke-free,” Richardson stated.

Dorothy Whitaker, manager of La Bamba bar, has the opposite opinion. She said that she has been involved in restaurant business for many years and basing on her experience she is confident that the business will be hurt dramatically.

She considers that it should be up to the owner to implement such measures. “While our sons are fighting for human rights and freedom in the Middle East, our own government that declared America to be the most democratic country in the world simply takes our rights away,” she added.

Because the overwhelming part of La Bamba clients smoke, Whitaker worries that many of them will switch to another place when they would have to go outside for a puff. Despite, the amended ban will permit smoking outside of the bars, it is not likely that smokers will choose to squeeze near the entrance for a smoke.

Gilbert complained that it would be impossible to launch a patio outside his bar located in the downtown of the city simply has not enough space even for a small patio.

Gilbert who quit smoking cold turkey ten years ago after 15 years of puffing stated that he would do his best to accommodate his customers.

He added that although he has not been smoking for years he always was on the smokers’ rights side; however the government simply stripped them from those rights.