Dane County became the first county in Wisconsin to issue a countywide smoking ban for workplaces, restaurants and bars starting Aug. 15.
This county ordinance comes almost a full year before the statewide smoking ban, signed into law by Gov. Jim Doyle in May, is scheduled to take effect on July 5, 2010.
Josh Wescott, spokesperson for Dane County Executive Kathleen Falk, said because many major cities in the county, like Madison and Middleton, have already become smoke-free, this ban will help ease competition.
“A number of larger communities have implemented smoking bans,” Wescott said. “In a lot of ways, it will help for the next 10-month period to level the playing field for those communities who have already taken ban steps.”
Wescott added many other states have successfully implemented statewide smoking bans, and the health benefits for citizens are significant.
Dane County Board of Supervisors Chair Scott McDonell, District 1, said he does not anticipate many businesses around the county will be seriously damaged under the ban based on what was observed in Madison.
“I think that our experience in Madison has been a benefit, and everyone has liked the ban and adjusted to it,” McDonell said.
Barb Mercer, president of the Dane County Tavern League, criticized Falk and the county government for passing the ban, saying many businesses, especially smaller bars, will be devastated by this early ban.
“I am disappointed that Falk and the supervisors put this into effect,” Mercer said. “They don’t give a damn about small businesses.”
Mercer added the Tavern League fought hard to put the statewide smoking ban off for a year so businesses could better prepare themselves for the hit, but now they have no time to adjust.
Mercer also said many business owners are angry at the new regulations because they feel the government is overstepping its bounds and having too much control over their businesses.
“For a year, we will have to put up with the Department of Health being overseer, and after that it will be the law enforcement people,” Mercer said. “[The police] don’t have time for busting smokers because they have better things to do.”
