July 1 Smoking Ban In Madison (WI): No Exceptions

WISC TV Channel 3000 ^ | June 21, 2005 | Staff Writer

[Diana in Wisconsin]

MADISON, Wis. -- Madison's smoking ban goes into effect July 1. The city council ruled Tuesday night there will be no exceptions for cigar bars.

New ads tout the ban by saying, "clearly a change is in the air." City officials unveiled the new ad campaign this week at the Nitty Gritty bar and restaurant, where the owner is one of the smoking ban's former opponents, Marsh Shapiro.

Shapiro said there's no sense fighting an ordinance that's already on the books, and he wants to help make the transition as smooth as possible.

"There are a lot of people that are going to be upset that probably are used to having a beer and a cigarette or a martini and a cigarette after work or after a sporting event in one of the nice establishments in our community, and they're just going to have to change their habits a little bit," said Shapiro.

Consequences are one thing that won't be in the ads.

The city health department said it's working with establishments to make sure that's not a problem right away.

"The campaign, both in print as well as on radio, will celebrate the upcoming smoking ban and encourage everyone to come out and celebrate, sing, dance, bowl and just have fun in a smoke-free environment," said Shelly Greller, chair of the Tobacco Free Dane County Coalition.

The groups involved anticipate there being a second wave of the ads when University of Wisconsin students start coming back this fall.

[Diana in Wisconsin]

I'm quite surprised to see that Marsh has gone over to "The Dark Side" but he is by far one of the most savvy businessmen in that stupid, stupid city, so he must be backing this, knowing something we mere mortals don't.

This one is going to be interesting. The bars and clubs surrounding Madison are already salivating and making preparations to draw the smokers to them in a big way.

Many of you UW Madison alums will remember The Nitty Gritty, I'm sure! ;)

[Southside_Chicago_Republican]

So you won't be able to smoke in a cigar bar? Where people go to buy and smoke cigars and anyone who works or goes into such a place either smokes or doesn't mind smoking? Orwellian. But then again, it is Madison.

[monday]

"The campaign, both in print as well as on radio, will celebrate the upcoming smoking ban and encourage everyone to come out and celebrate, sing, dance, bowl and just have fun in a smoke-free environment,"

lol.... I wouldn't expect many smokers to be out celebrating that night. More likely at home crying into their beer.

[Phantom Lord]

and they're just going to have to change their habits a little bit," said Shapiro

Such as drinking at home more often.

[RicocheT]

I'm not a smoker, but this campaign against smoking is going too far. Some taverns, cigar bars, small coffee cafés, private restaurants and business places should be be allowed to permit smoking if the owner, employees and customers want it.

There are plenty of other places of the same type where smoking isn't allowed by the owners. It's not a hardship for non-smokers to find where those places are and patronize them. I found those places a long time ago before all these government rules and never felt I needed the city or state to impose my no smoke policy on others.

[Diana in Wisconsin]

"I found those places a long time ago before all these government rules and never felt I needed the city or state to impose my no smoke policy on others."

Exactly. When a bar was too smokey for me, I left. I don't have the right to tell smokers what to do. My DH is a smoker, but he doesn't smoke in our home or in our car, or even in his Chevy truck. He knows the importance of maintaining Resale Value, LOL!

[tucker93]

I have thought it odd that any state accepting tobacco settlement monies, would ban smoking altogether. I would assume that the state will be asking for money in the future to offset what was spent and wasted in these silly campaigns. I agree with most others that support the right of a business to make their own decisions whether or not to allow smoking.

[Diana in Wisconsin]

"I have thought it odd that any state accepting tobacco settlement monies, would ban smoking altogether."

Wisconsin p*ssed away their Tobacco Money within months. Granted, they used it to dig us out of a deficit, but within a year we were in the red again and spending without a care in the world. La-La-La-La-La! Grrrr!

I would bet that many other states did this as well. No sense in planning ahead when the next legal scam to screw Big Business or Taxpayers or Property Owners is just around the corner, right? ;)

[Bear_Slayer]

I'm not a smoker, but this campaign against smoking is going too far. Some taverns, cigar bars, small coffee cafés, private restaurants and business places should be be allowed to permit smoking if the owner, employees and customers want it

This was the first attack on private property. Private isn't really private it's public. Then came the SCOTUS ruling.