Let's snuff out smoking in Wisconsin

You can’t do it in retail stores, you can’t do it on the bus, you can’t do it in the office, but as of yet, bars and restaurants are fair game for smoking to pollute the air. Governor Jim Doyle has laid out his plan this year for the “Statewide Anti-Smoking Initiative,” and it’s about time we adopt it and snuff out smoking.


A recent report from Tobacco Control says people who smoke as few as 1-4 cigarettes daily have significantly more risk of dying than nonsmokers do. It’s not like people these days don’t know that smoking is bad for your health, but it is time to consider a more broad aspect of health, the health of those around you. As Doyle articulates his plan to rid the state of smoking, bars begin to realize the ramifications of a statewide smoking ban.


Milwaukee Alderman Robert Donovan opposes the ban saying it’s unfair to target small bar owners who depend on a regular customer base that includes smokers. Donovan, who receives support from the Wisconsin Tavern League, fails to realize this ban is about health, and no one should profit off of people who smoke cigarettes and risk their own health. Bars that support smoking must realize they are not being singled out, but the public’s health is more important. Millions of dollars a year in Wisconsin are spent on treating people with diseases related to smoking, and even more money is wasted on buying cigarettes which cause these diseases.


According to the American Cancer Society, smoking is responsible for nearly 1 in 5 deaths in the United States. Because cigarette smoking and tobacco use are acquired behaviors -- activities that individuals choose to do -- smoking is the most preventable cause of premature death in our society. The right to smoke should never be taken away, this would be losing our constitutional rights, but to cause others harm because of your own poor decision is not a constitutional right.


Indoor smoking bans have already taken place in major cities including Minneapolis and St. Paul, Madison, New York, and even entire countries such as Scotland, Ireland, and England. It seems as though Wisconsin is dragging its feet. Implementing this new ban will not only encourage people to quit smoking, but also better the health of the people of this state.


People should not be allowed to harm other people’s health, regardless of the situation. A recent case study funded by Cancer Research UK monitored carbon dioxide levels of non-smokers in a smoky atmosphere. Their researched found that carbon dioxide levels significantly rise with only one hour of exposure to secondhand smoke. It is not fair for people to have to endure such smoky conditions, damage their health, and reek of a cigarette all while working at their job.


This statewide smoking ban would end this epidemic and would encourage good health to all citizens. Smoking in bars affects other people, and should not be a right of an individual because it harms others’ health. If a statewide smoking ban was issued, just imagine how many people would quit smoking. It is time to pass the statewide smoking ban in Wisconsin. The ban will make bars and restaurants much healthier places to socialize and work. It will also lower the number of diseases related to cigarette smoking, and lead this state into the 21st century smoke free.