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Senate Committee To Vote On Statewide Smoking Ban
Dane County Tavern League Says It's Against Measure
UPDATED: 12:56 pm CDT October 1,
2007
MADISON, Wis. -- On Monday morning, Minnesota workers will clock in across the state in entirely smoke-free workplaces.
VIDEO: Watch The ReportOct. 1 will mark the first day of the state's smoke-free workplace law going into effect. Meanwhile, Illinois passed similar legislation in July. But where does Wisconsin stand in the debate?Currently, a bill is scheduled to come up for a vote in a state Senate committee in a few weeks that would put a smoking ban into effect in Wisconsin restaurants, bars and most public places, WISC-TV reported.Jon Gruber, owner of the Crystal Corner in Madison, said that he disagrees with the idea of a statewide ban."Since they do pay a lot of taxes and are operating a legal establishment, I don't think that the city should be intruding about their operating procedures to the degree they are with the smoking ban," he said.But patron Bill Wachendorf, who is a smoker, disagrees."I actually don't go to a bar just to smoke. That's not my reason for going to a bar. I actually don't care for the smell of smoke," said Wachendorf.Others like Wachendorf said that they believe Wisconsin should join Minnesota, Illinois and more than 20 other states with statewide bans."I think there's going to be a lot of pressure because when people visit a lot of different areas like Chicago and Minneapolis, they're going to be like, 'Wow, this is great,'" said Maureen Busalacchi, of Smoke Free Wisconsin.Gruber said that it hasn't been so great. He said since the city's smoking ban went into effect, he's lost between 15 and 30 percent of his business. He said that he doesn't believe a statewide ban would make it better.Officials with the Dane County Tavern League agree with Gruber's position."I can't see the business coming up any because there will just be more places that are not having smokers," said Dane County Tavern League's Dick Story. "I don't see how it would generate any more revenue in the alcohol industry."While it's still too early to tell what type of votes a statewide smoking ban would get in the state Legislature, some bar patrons said that they believe the future will be smoke free."You can't burn leaves in a building," said Wachendorf. "You shouldn't be able to, you know. It is a public health issue."Gruber said that he thinks it's only a matter of time."It seems to be the national trend, and I do believe that eventually Wisconsin is going to fall in line with what the Midwest is doing," said Gruber.The Breathe Free Wisconsin Act is the name of the smoking ban bill. It is scheduled for a vote in the Senate Public Health Committee on Oct. 17, WISC-TV reported.
VIDEO: Watch The ReportOct. 1 will mark the first day of the state's smoke-free workplace law going into effect. Meanwhile, Illinois passed similar legislation in July. But where does Wisconsin stand in the debate?Currently, a bill is scheduled to come up for a vote in a state Senate committee in a few weeks that would put a smoking ban into effect in Wisconsin restaurants, bars and most public places, WISC-TV reported.Jon Gruber, owner of the Crystal Corner in Madison, said that he disagrees with the idea of a statewide ban."Since they do pay a lot of taxes and are operating a legal establishment, I don't think that the city should be intruding about their operating procedures to the degree they are with the smoking ban," he said.But patron Bill Wachendorf, who is a smoker, disagrees."I actually don't go to a bar just to smoke. That's not my reason for going to a bar. I actually don't care for the smell of smoke," said Wachendorf.Others like Wachendorf said that they believe Wisconsin should join Minnesota, Illinois and more than 20 other states with statewide bans."I think there's going to be a lot of pressure because when people visit a lot of different areas like Chicago and Minneapolis, they're going to be like, 'Wow, this is great,'" said Maureen Busalacchi, of Smoke Free Wisconsin.Gruber said that it hasn't been so great. He said since the city's smoking ban went into effect, he's lost between 15 and 30 percent of his business. He said that he doesn't believe a statewide ban would make it better.Officials with the Dane County Tavern League agree with Gruber's position."I can't see the business coming up any because there will just be more places that are not having smokers," said Dane County Tavern League's Dick Story. "I don't see how it would generate any more revenue in the alcohol industry."While it's still too early to tell what type of votes a statewide smoking ban would get in the state Legislature, some bar patrons said that they believe the future will be smoke free."You can't burn leaves in a building," said Wachendorf. "You shouldn't be able to, you know. It is a public health issue."Gruber said that he thinks it's only a matter of time."It seems to be the national trend, and I do believe that eventually Wisconsin is going to fall in line with what the Midwest is doing," said Gruber.The Breathe Free Wisconsin Act is the name of the smoking ban bill. It is scheduled for a vote in the Senate Public Health Committee on Oct. 17, WISC-TV reported.Copyright 2007 by Channel 3000. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
