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Senior Dave Brown smokes near a anti-smoking ban poster at the Brass Rail. Gov. Jim Doyle has been trying to ban smoking in public places since 2007. Doyle also approved a cigarette tax increase of $1 starting Jan. 1.

Proposed smoking ban could affect city bars

By: Courtney Teague-Carter

Posted: 2/13/08

As Gov. Jim Doyle continues his fight in legislature for smoke-free Wisconsin public areas, local bar and restaurant owners weigh in on how it may affect their businesses.

"What a jerk," Bob Sweet, owner of the Downstairs Sports Bar and Grill, said of Gov. Doyle. "I think it's just a matter of taking more privileges away from those who smoke. It's a freedom and I don't think the government has the right to take it away."

Doyle proposed a smoking ban in all public buildings, workplaces, restaurants and bars in January 2007 in an effort to make Wisconsin smoke-free. In addition to the ban he proposed a hike in cigarette taxes from 77 cents per pack to $1.25.

"I think the proposed ban is very good," George Christon, owner of Novak's Restaurant and Gus' Pizza, said. "I don't mind. With a ratio of nine to one non-smokers to smokers I don't think the customers mind either."

Lawmakers approved the $1 tax increase, which brought the cigarette tax to $1.77 on Jan. 1, 2008. Doyle said he believes raising the cost of cigarettes and making it harder to light up in different places will save lives and cut healthcare costs.

The increased sales tax will save more than $2 billion in smoking-related health cost and possibly cause 42,500 current adult smokers to quit, according to a recent study by the Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids.

Doyle's proposals are aimed at not only making current and prospective smokers healthier, but it addresses the dangerous effects of second-hand smoke.

"There's no question second-hand smoke is injurious," Judy Lembrich, a registered nurse for the University Health and Counseling Services, said. "Even short exposure like in a restaurant can cause decreased blood flow. Almost any of the problems associated with smoking can affect those in contact with the smoke."

Second-hand smoke contains more than 4,000 chemicals including more than 40 cancer-causing agents and more than 200 known poisons, according to a 2005 report released by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. Some of the health effects of prolonged exposure to second-hand smoke include lung cancer, respiratory tract infections and heart disease.

Yet many bar and restaurant owners around Wisconsin believe this ban could have harmful effects to their businesses. While there are some who are fearful, others believe the ban will not stop people from smoking or supporting their business.

"I'm not a smoker myself," Sweet said. "But I do sell cigarettes and people are still buying them. I think people will still come out to the bars."

Recently many restaurants in Wisconsin adopted the "smoke-free environment" policy, eliminating the smoking section or making the non-smoking sections larger.

"We have converted our restaurants," Christon said. "We now have very small smoking sections. But pretty soon the restaurants will be completely converted."

While the state's legislature has yet to decide on the different aspects of the proposed ban, Doyle is asking for it to take effect in January 2009.