NO SMOKING !!!

WISCONSIN BECOMES THE 26TH STATE TO PASS "NO SMOKING" LAWS. AS A SMOKER I FEEL MY PERSONAL FREEDOMS HAVE BEEN ATTACKED. I DIDN'T REALLY THINK WISCONSIN WOULD ENACT SUCH A LAW THIS YEAR, IN A DOWN ECONOMY THAT'S LOSING JOBS ANYWAY. THEY DID ADDRESS THIS, AND THE NEW "NO SMOKING" LAWS DO NOT GO INTO EFFECT UNTIL NEXT SUMMER.

WHAT PUT WISCONSIN OVER THE EDGE WAS THE MANY LOCAL COMMUNITY ORDINANCES AGAINST SMOKING. THERE WAS A HODGEPODGE OF NO SMOKING AREAS CHECKERBOADING THE STATE AND MAKING FOR AN UNEVEN, AND UNFAIR BUSINESS CLIMATE.

SMOKERS ARE GOING TO SMOKE, AND DRINKERS ARE GOING TO DRINK. SO NOW WHAT?

* NO SMOKING LAWS ARE ONLY AS GOOD AS THE ENFORCEMENT. I CAN'T TELL YOU HOW MANY BARS I'VE BEEN IN, WHERE AN ASHTRAY SUDDENLY COMES OUT FROM UNDER THE BAR AND CUSTOMERS SMOKE ANYWAY, EVEN IN CRESCENT CITY CALIFORNIA ONE AFTERNOON. THIS IS VERY PREVALENT IN NEVADA WHERE THE "NO SMOKING" LAWS ARE ENFORCED BY THE HEALTH DEPARTMENT, AND THE SMOKER IS FINED $100, NOT THE BUSINESS.

* SMOKERS LIKE ME TEND TO DRINK AND SMOKE AT HOME. I PICK UP MY BEER AND SIT HOME AND DRINK AND SMOKE. IF I STOP AT A BAR WITH NO SMOKING, I USUALLY HAVE JUST ONE DRINK, AND LEAVE. I VOTE WITH MY CHECKBOOK !!!

* THE "NO SMOKING" LAWS DO NOT PERTAIN TO INDIAN RESERVATIONS. GOOD NEWS WISCONSIN, NOW YOU CAN HEAD OVER TO YOUR FAVORITE BAR OR INDIAN CASINO TO LIVE LIFE NORMALLY.

* WISCONSIN IS GOING TO LOSE 100'S OF IT'S MOM AND POP TAVERNS. THE DAYS OF A BAR ON EVERY OTHER CORNER, WILL BE GONE FOREVER, AND SO WILL THE MANY JOBS, AND IN MY OPINION, THE CHARACTER OF RURAL WISCONSIN.

* MY ADVICE TO THE TAVERN OWNERS, IS TO USE THIS LAST YEAR TO FIGURE OUT HOW TO ACCOMMODATE YOUR SMOKERS. BUILD A PORCH, OR PATIO FOR YOUR SMOKERS.

I'VE SEEN SOME IN CALIFORNIA WITH EVERYTHING EXCEPT THE ROOF SHEETING, INCLUDING POOL TABLES, FULL BAR, TV'S, AND EVEN DINING TABLES. THERE IS ONE BAR DOWNTOWN WAUKON, IOWA WHERE THE INSIDE BAR IS VERY SMALL AND THE OUTSIDE AREA IS HUGH, COMPLETE WITH HALF COURT BASKET BALL, STAGE FOR THE BANDS, ETC. ONE BAR IN PANAMA CITY FLORIDA, HAD A WALK UP WINDOW ON THEIR PATIO TO ORDER DRINKS.

SO COME ON WISCONSIN, DON'T TAKE THIS LYING DOWN, LOOK INTO THOSE LP GAS PATIO HEATERS, UMBRELLA TABLES, AND WAYS TO ACCOMMODATE YOUR SMOKING CLIENTELE. YOUR NON-SMOKING CLIENTELE WILL ENJOY YOUR NEW PORCH, SAND VOLLEY BALL COURTS, OR OUTSIDE STAGE JUST AS MUCH.

OH YA, AND IF I WALK INTO YOUR BAR AS A STRANGER, DON'T HESITATE TO PULL THAT ONE LAST ASHTRAY OUT FROM UNDER THE BAR AND INVITE ME TO SMOKE ANYWAY AND ENJOY SEVERAL OF YOUR ICE COLD BEERS!!!