5 more days until a smoke-free Wisconsin

5 days. A regular work week. 5 days of unnecessary exposure for some workers.

It's time for us to "Lego" of that smoky bar image. 

Smoking in bars, restaurants and public places will soon be a distant memory. 

Join Gov. Doyle in Eau Claire or La Crosse!

Governor Doyle will be rounding out his visits around the state to get people excited about the new smoke-free law starting on July 5th with two more visits on Thursday July 1st. 


On Thursday Gov. Doyle will be in Eau Claire and La Crosse. 

Join Gov. Doyle in Eau Claire at Noon at the Northwoods Brewpub, 2560 Oakwood Mall Drive. 

The Governor will then make a stop in La Crosse at 1:45 pm at the Boot Hill Pub, 1501 Saint Andrews Street.

Hope to see you there!

6 more days until a smoke-free Wisconsin

Six more days until a smoke-free Wisconsin! 

We've rounded mile marker 6 on our way to a clean air state! 

The finish line is almost in sight now.

7 more days until a smoke-free Wisconsin

We are seven days away! The writing is on the wall. 

Wisconsin is already great place to live and after July 5th it will be EVEN better. 

Wisconsin is Better Smoke-Free! 

8 more days until a smoke-free Wisconsin

Eight more days until a smoke-free Wisconsin! Today's reason is:

Soon, Wisconsin citizens can yell B-I-N-G-O! 

in a smoke-free environment. 

28 other states have made this change and the Wisconsin workforce will be healthier because they will have protections from secondhand smoke.  

9 more days until a smoke-free Wisconsin

We are nine days away from a smoke-free Wisconsin! 

Today's reason is:

Smoke-free laws are the building blocks of healthier workers 

and safer workplaces. 

Let's Celebrate! Join Gov. Doyle for a special event!

Tuesday is a big day. The Governor will be featured at venues all across the state celebrating smoke-free air!!

 

Are you in Milwaukee and ready to get excited about smoke-free air?

Join us!

How about our Green Bay readers? Are you ready to get excited?

Join us! 

Let's hear it for Wausau! Get excited Wausau folks!

Join us! 

10 Days and Counting! Wisconsin goes smoke-free soon

With a SMOKE-FREE WISCONSIN right around the corner, we are starting the 10 day countdown clock. We will be posting a new reason every day as we get closer and closer to the big day- July 5th! Today is day ten and today's reason why smoke-free air is so important is:

Advocates have drawn a line in the sand and said secondhand smoke is not just a mere annoyance, it’s dangerous! Workers need protections and in ten days nearly all workers in all kinds of workplaces will be breathing easier. 

Outstanding Letter to the Editor

It's clear that Christina Beam gets it! She wrote an excellent peice in the Baraboo Paper about why the smoke-free law is going to be a good thing. 

Click here to read it! 

Resources to help you get ready to go smoke-free

We are just a few short weeks away from being the next smoke-free state! 

What do you need to get ready for 

Wisconsin's smoke-free law?

How about a sign?

Or what about whether this law applies to your workplace? 

(It likely does!)

What if you want to go out for a night on the town but 

don't want to deal with the dangers of secondhand smoke?

>> Check out all the smoke-free venues all across the state! <<

What if you want to tell the whole world how excited you are about going smoke-free?

>> Did you want to do that via Twitter? or Facebook? <<

Did we leave out a resource you might need? 

Feel free to contact us and we will try to help out! 

Questions about the new smoke-free law?

The smoke-free law is just around the corner and all those who worked so hard for this law have waited a LONG time to have their right to breath smoke-free air!

Some folks still have questions about this law. Does it apply to me? What about enclosed place? How will this law be enforced?

If you have a question you can submit it to our website with your contact information and we will follow up with you as soon as possible!

So ask your questions and get ready because a smoke-free Wisconsin is coming your way!

The LTE: a response to stories

The Letter to the Editor or LTE is a tried and true strategy used by political movements to get the word out about an issue. Letters are successful because they are personal, short, and share an opinion. These are also a highly read and highly commented on section of both print and online editions of newspapers. A good letter can ignite a debate in a house or online about a particular issue.

Good letters have a few key elements:

The Lead-In
The first part of the letter should be eye catching and make a bold statement.

The Body
This is the main part of the letter. Convey your point and your opinion here.

The Conclusion
This is where you wrap it up. Repeat your positive message and really bring home the point.

The Tobacco Control Resource Center has great information about how to write excellent LTEs!

A recent example of an LTE is out of Oshkosh.

So get out there and write an LTE- a smooth transition to a Smoke-Free Wisconsin depends on it!

Shepard Express Article

Nice Article in the Shepard Express about the smoke-free law!
http://npaper-wehaa.com/shepherdexpress#2010/06/15/?article=908451

AMA: E-cigarettes are drug delivery devices

The American Medical Association released a statement earlier this week stating that electronic cigarettes or "e-cigarettes" should be classified as drug delivery devices and should be subject to FDA regulation. When e-cigs first emerged on the market, it was unclear what to classify these products as. The manufacturers state that the product is non-tobacco and a way to quit smoking. Folks who use e-cigarettes say they have quit smoking and have a "smoke-free" life. However you see the product, e-cigarettes do deliver nicotine, not unlike inhalers, lozenges, or gum. All cessation products are regulated by the FDA either as over-the-counter or by prescription. 

The article contains a quote which is quite poignant:

“Because e-cigarettes have not been thoroughly tested, one cannot conclude that they are less harmful or less dangerous than conventional cigarettes,” said Dr. Langston. “The fact that they come in fruit and candy flavors gives them the potential to entice new nicotine users, especially teens.”

FDA regulation of e-cigarettes is something we can all support.

Read the full release here: http://www.ama-assn.org/ama/pub/news/news/electronic-cigarettes-policy.shtml

Second-hand Tobacco Smoke Can Cause Psychological Harm | Health | English

A new study that was released this week shows that secondhand smoke may cause more than physical harm. Dr. Hamer found in the past that cigarette smokers tend to have higher rates of depression and other mental health issues. This most recent study sought to examine if there is any relationship between exposure to secondhand smoke and psychiatric distress. What they found was interesting.

People in this study who had higher levels of exposure to secondhand smoke had increased levels of depression and anxiety. They also discovered that people exposed to secondhand smoke were more likely to be admitted to a hospital for severe mental health reasons than people who were not exposed to secondhand smoke.

To read the full article visit this link:

Second-hand Tobacco Smoke Can Cause Psychological Harm | Health | English

Tobacco companies contest NY anti-smoking signs | Reuters

Big Tobacco is up to its usual tricks of the trade. We recently reported that the state of Mass. would soon be joining New York City in the use of graphic posters at the point of sale. NYC created an ordinance that mandated educational posters about the health hazards of smoking at the point of sale. The educational posters are part of a campaign which feature graphic images of the havoc that tobacco and smoking can reek on lungs, teeth, and overall health. Big Tobacco claims the posters are mis-leading. They are also arguing that the posters violate their free speech rights. Big Tobacco really doesn't get it!

Tobacco companies contest NY anti-smoking signs | Reuters

New resources to promote the smoke-free law now available!

1. Postcard for businesses: http://tobwis.org/uploads/media/wibettersmokefree_postcard_biz.pdf

• Targeted at Wisconsin business owners and managers, this postcard highlights several of the free resources for businesses that are available on WIBetterSmokeFree.com. Features a photo from Milwaukee's Michigan Street Diner.

2. Postcard for celebrators: http://tobwis.org/uploads/media/wibettersmokefree_postcard_celebrate.pdf

• This postcard helps people who are excited about the new law find tools to help them celebrate July 5th on WIBetterSmokeFree.com.

3. How-to sheet: Using an Email Signature for Promotion: http://tobwis.org/uploads/media/Promoting_events_with_email_signature.pdf

• This resource shares several examples of how to use an email signature to promote a coalition or event.

4. How-to sheet: Using a Facebook Event for Promotion: http://tobwis.org/uploads/media/Facebook_event_how-to.pdf

• This resource lists step-by-step instructions on how to use Facebook's Events feature to organize an event (such as a July 5th implementation party) and promote it to a large group of people.

U.S. cigarette brands tops in cancer causing chemicals – Paging Dr. Gupta - CNN.com Blogs

A recent study shows that among all international and domestic brands US cigarette brands contain more cancer causing agents. The study recruited smokers from the US, Canada, Australia, and the UK. Through examining urine, cigarette butts, and mouth swabs scientists determined that US brands contain more tobacco specific nitrosamines (TSNA), the major cause of cancer in tobacco products.

To read the full article check out the link below:

U.S. cigarette brands tops in cancer causing chemicals – Paging Dr. Gupta - CNN.com Blogs

Media Campaign Announcement

This morning at the Market Street Diner in Sun Prairie, the Department of Health Services Sec. Timberlake announced the start of the statewide media campaign creating awareness about the new smoke-free air law. The campaign will feature print, on-line, and radio spots all across the state. Unfortunately there will not be any TV ads due to significantly reduced funds in tobacco control. Read the full press release click here.

To see some of the ads visit www.WiBetterSmokeFree.com!

Comment Policy

SmokeFree Wisconsin has hosted an organizational blog for a few years now.  It seems like a good time to remind people about the rules of engagement on our blog.

We follow fairly standard internet protocol with regard to comments:

• Stay on topic: Comments should be made on the topic which is being discussed. Repetition should be avoided.
• Be respectful: We encourage genuine discussion and respectful disagreement on this blog. Personal attacks and aggressive or threatening  comments will not be posted
• No spam: Comments which intend to direct readers to a product or service will be rejected.

Please note our blog is not geared towards a "public debate" of tobacco control. This is a blog which shares resources, ideas, and relevant news within the Wisconsin Tobacco Control Movement. Readers from outside of Wisconsin are certainly encouraged, as we try to discuss tobacco-related issues that are national interest.  

$250 Million Loophole in Child Health Law

Back in February 2009, President Obama signed the State Child Health Insurance Program (SCHIP) Bill into law. This was a program that expanded healthcare coverage for children by increasing the Federal Tobacco Tax by $.62. According to a recent Associated Press article a large loophole left in the law has cost the government nearly $250 Million in the first year. The so-called loophole is around the labeling and taxation of roll your own and pipe tobacco. Roll your own tobacco was included in a large increase while pipe tobacco was not. Companies simply changed the name of their product and avoided the increased tax. 

During the last year there have been record increases in the sale of pipe tobacco while there has been a significant drop-off in the sales of roll your own tobacco. As discussed on our blog what really is the difference between these two products?


In the interest in tax fairness this loophole needs to be closed. 
To read the AP article click here.