Eau Claire goes smoke-free today

Beginning today, all workplaces in Eau Claire, including all restaurants and bars, will be 100% smoke-free indoors. We've heard from smoke-free air supporters who are celebrating around town in their neighborhoods and some bars have already set out the welcome mat. Clear Air Eau Claire advocates will be gathering for 2-for-1 burgers and 1/2 price appetizers at the Northwoods Pub tonight between 4:30-8:00. Stop by and remember to tell staff and management you're out because of the clear air!

We want to hear your story about why you're glad Eau Claire is going smoke-free. Click here to send us your thoughts.

WA smoke-free law affecting bars... for the better!

Data out of Washington State's Department of Revenue shows an increase in bar business since Washington went smoke-free. Read the report here.

Celebrate Father's Day without the Butts!

With Father's Day quickly approaching, the Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids has published data about the detrimental effects tobacco has on fathers every year nationwide and specifically in Wisconsin. Take a look at some of these facts:

• Nearly 20% (415, 300) of all men in Wisconsin smoke.
  
  
• On average, 4500 men die of smoking-related diseases in Wisconsin every year.
  
  
• 2900 children in Wisconsin have already lost their fathers to smoking-related diseases, and 410 will continue to lose their fathers to smoking each year.
  
  
• Wisconsin pays $1,248,700,000 every year in health costs to treat male smokers.

Follow these guidelines to protect your children from the harms of secondhand smoke and from lighting up themselves:

• Quit smoking! Even if you've struggled, keep trying! Children with a parent who smokes are twice as likely to begin smoking.
  
  
• Don’t allow smoking in your home or your car.
  
  
• Talk to your children about any questions they have about smoking and clear up any misunderstandings.
  
  
• Support tobacco prevention efforts and smoke-free laws locally, statewide, and nationally.

This June 15^th, remember that you play a major role in your children's opinions about smoking. Teach your children about the harms of tobacco and enjoy your Father’s Day without the butts!

Hi, I'm Austin!

My name is Austin Hetrick, and I'm the newest addition to SmokeFree Wisconsin's team! Originally from Indiana, I'm a sophomore at the University of Wisconsin studying English and Secondary Education. I'm here at SFW because I'm passionate about protecting non-smokers like my step-mom, Pam, who died of a smoker's cancer in 2005. Together with my father, grandfather, and much of our family, smoke-free legislation in Indiana (and now Wisconsin) has become a cause we regularly discuss and fight for. Through this blog (and the rest of SFW's activities), I hope to keep fighting for clean air and safer workplaces.

Monona votes for smoke-free, next city to pass smoke-free restaurant and bar ordinance

Monona alders responded to an incredible show of constituent support and pressure last night by voting in favor of a smoke-free ordinance. The ordinance provides smoke-free protection in all workplaces, including restaurants, bowling alleys, and bars. It will go into effect June 1, 2009.

Congratulations to our advocates on the ground, who walked door-to-door gathering input from their community. It was the work of BreatheFree Monona that brought this ordinance around!