Tobacco.org

Milwaukee adopts stricter rules regulating smoking in public places 

Milwaukee bars and other businesses will have to follow stricter rules defining where smoking is and isn't allowed under the statewide indoor smoking ban, the Common Council decided Tuesday.

Aldermen voted, 12-3, to fold the state's new smoking ban law into city ordinances, but with a different definition of enclosed spaces where smoking is prohibited.

Under the city ordinance, smoking will be banned in areas that are at least 50% enclosed by walls, not including screens. The state law defines an enclosed space as having a roof and more than two "substantial" walls, a definition that tavern owners believe could allow smoking in rooms that have large open windows.

The smoking ordinance also lets the city attorney's office prosecute smoking violations in Municipal Court, where any fines would flow to the city treasury.

Jump to full article »

Some restaurant, tavern owners say customers have been adjusting to smoking ban 

Three weeks into the state's workplace smoking ban, and central Wisconsin businesses and their customers continue to adjust.

Gov. Jim Doyle signed legislation in May 2009, providing more than 13 months for businesses to prepare for the ban that went into effect July 5.

And while Rob Konkol -- part-owner of Stevens Point's Partners Pub, 2600 Stanley St. -- has heard a few gripes about the law, he said it's still too early to know how much, if any, effect the change has had on business.

"No one really complains to us that much," Konkol said. "You'll get people that occasionally like to discuss (the ban), but it's probably not something we would've done for a long time had it not been forced on us."

Partners has a back deck area where patrons can smoke outside

Jump to full article »

EDITORIAL: Banning the smoking ban in Wisconsin? 

Half-baked ideas get floated in election years all the time. The idea topping this year's list (it's still early) is repeal of Wisconsin's state smoking ban. Both Milwaukee County Executive Scott Walker and former congressman Mark Neumann, vying for the GOP gubernatorial nomination, say they'd sign a bill to do just that if either becomes governor.

What part of "carcinogen," "safe workplace" or "public health" don't the candidates understand? . . .

So, on the heels of the state's instituting a measure that will likely decrease the number of heart attacks and mitigate other ills associated with secondhand smoke in Wisconsin, two candidates think the ban is a bad idea. That, in itself, is a bad idea.

Jump to full article »

Enforcing the Smoking Ban  

Mike Hastreiter owns Bucketheads in Rhinelander.

And since the smoking ban lit up, he says he's noticed a difference. "I've noticed people don't play the games as much or as long as they used to before, and they're a little more apt to move around a little bit."

But Hastreiter says he's also noticed more families coming into his smokeless business. "Just because of the fact that they have kids and didn't want them to be around the smoking environment."

But Mike's not the only one shifting gears.

Oneida County is also discussing how to best enforce the ban at places like the courthouse.

Jump to full article »

City workers may be told they can't light up anymore  

Stepping outside city buildings to take a cigarette break may not be an option for city employees for long.

City administrators have drafted a tobacco-free campus policy that would snuff out all smoking and chewing tobacco usage by workers in Wauwatosa municipal buildings, grounds, parking lots and structures, and in any city-owned equipment or vehicle.

The statewide ban of smoking in workplaces went into effect July 5, so it seemed like the right time to look at making the city's policies stricter, said Beth Aldana, director of human resources.

Jump to full article »

No Smoking Posters Are a New Requirement for Wisconsin Labor Law Posting Compliance 

Wisconsin employers must now post a No Smoking poster along with other Wisconsin labor law posters to remain in posting compliance. The new requirement is part of the Wisconsin Smoke-Free Air law which prohibits smoking in restaurants, taverns and other indoor workplaces. The No Smoking sign includes the international “No Smoking” symbol and Wisconsin statute number.

Keeping federal and state labor law posters up to date can be time-consuming and overwhelming. That’s why many businesses are turning to dedicated third-party poster providers for easy, affordable posting compliance.

MyStatePosters.com provides two convenient and cost-effective ways to get into full labor law posting compliance, without skimping on quality or accuracy.

Jump to full article »

County wrestling with smoking ban 

Now that a statewide smoking ban is in effect prohibiting smoking within 25 feet from an entrance to a public building, Oneida County officials are discussing how specifically to enforce the new rules given that a receptacle to put out smoking material is within that range.

The county’s Buildings and Grounds Committee this week discussed how to help the general public comply with the smoking ban.

County Buildings and Grounds Director Curt Krouze said the situation “is kind of a Catch 22,” as smokers might end up “in the middle of the parking lot” to be at least 25 feet away from the courthouse entrance.

“We’re the ones who pick up the cigarette butts,”

Jump to full article »

LETTER: Walker, Neumann show disregard of smoking dangers  

With the smoking ban in place for less than a month, gubernatorial candidates Scott Walker and Mark Neumann are calling for the repeal of the smoking ban in Wisconsin.

What are they thinking?

They can hardly claim ignorance of the dangers of smoking and the deaths from smoking and second-hand smoking.

They both show complete disregard for the volumes of medical evidence concerning the ravages resulting from smoking.

They have failed to notice the many states in the United States that now ban smoking in public places. All of our neighboring states ban smoking.

Are they the the type of people who should be elected as governor of Wisconsin? I don't think so.

Jump to full article »

LETTERS: SMOKING BAN 

Smoking ban has mixed effects on city 

In Shell Lake, some places had gone smoke-free before the ban went into effect. Thru the Woods Café  became nonsmoking a few years ago. The Lakeview Bar & Grill recently reopened, as a smoke-free establishment.

Other downtown bars reported seeing fewer customers when the ban initially went into effect. Shannon Klopp, owner of Klopp's 5th Avenue Bar, said that the first couple of weeks were slow for patrons, and many weren't staying out as long, but it has picked up again.

"It's slowly starting to get back up there," she said.

Klopp's now sells E-cigarettes and refills, and she said they hope to build a smoking area. Smoking areas must have open sides, according to the law.

Jump to full article »

Bars Confused by Warnings of Smoking Ban Violations  

When the statewide workplace smoking ban went into effect earlier this month, the state created a hotline and web site where people can anonymously report a smoking violation.

As Action 2 News discovered, some might be mis-using the system.

"Sounds like there are some glitches in their system as far as how they're regulating it, things like that," St. Brendan's Inn bar manager Dan Joppe said.

St. Brendan's Inn in downtown Green Bay says soon after the smoking ban took effect it received a letter in the mail from the State saying its bar was in violation of the smoking ban on July 5th.

The bar believes someone submitted an anonymous report on the state's web site.

Jump to full article »

Businesses hit with spate of phony smoking ban violation complaints 

When the statewide smoking ban took effect July 5, the state Department of Public Health set up a hot line, (800) NO SMOKE, and a website that allowed tipsters to alert it to bars, restaurants and workplaces turning a blind eye to smokers. The department then sends a letter to the establishment and the local law enforcement agency informing them of the complaint.

However, the tips are virtually anonymous, and plenty of phony complaints were registered in the first week of the ban -- more than 70 in Green Bay alone, said Connie Olson, executive director of Community Action for Healthy Living, an organization that promotes smoke-free lifestyles.

Olson said she realized the flaw when she noticed complaints about bars that had been smoke-free for six months. . ..

"Some people would complain four or five times against the same venue, but some of those businesses weren't even open."

Jump to full article »

It's too soon to tell if statewide ban has inspired smokers to quit  

It's still early to tell if the Wisconsin ban on smoking in bars, restaurants and workplaces that went into effect July 5 has pushed other people to quit, too, but some statewide indicators have signaled that certainly may be the case.

In the first week following the smoking ban, 333 people called the Department of Health Service's quit line, a 16.4 percent increase from June's weekly average.

"A 17 percent increase in quit line callers is a nice increase. It's large enough to be significant to me," said Dr. Seth Foldy, the state health officer and administrator who oversees the tobacco program for the department. "Environmental changes make a difference when it comes to starting smoking and quitting smoking. It's backed up by plenty of statistics."

Other states have noticed significant increases in interest for cessation programs after the implementation of smoking bans. . . .

The American Lung Association will be hosting a symposium Wednesday at the Bart Starr Room in Lambeau Field to teach local businesses how to be compliant with the new smoking ban in workplaces and answer any questions they may have. Registration begins at 8 a.m.

Jump to full article »

AUDIO: Smoking ban has some looking to quit 

The implementation of a statewide smoking ban is apparently motivating more people to kick the habit.

It's been two weeks since the ban on smoking in workplaces went into effect. Since it started, Wisconsin Tobacco Quit Line manager Kate Kobinsky says there has been an increase in calls coming from people who want to give up smoking.

In the first week alone, calls to the Quit Line were up 20-percent since before the ban. Kobinsky says that was even without the benefit of advertising the service, which provides advice and medications to help people stop smoking.

Jump to full article »

No smoking ban problems in Rock County  

WCLO's Steve Benton reports no major riots since the state's new smoking ban went into effect

Jump to full article »