Editorial: Bill takes first step toward workplace smoking ban

Publication Date: 2005-05-13

• Author:Editorial
• Publication:Sheboygan (WI) Press

We think it's time that Wisconsin adopts statewide no smoking regulations in the workplace. People could still smoke in their own home or car and in open-air places, but their place of employement would be entirely smoke-free. At present, there are 11 states that ban smoking in all workplaces, but four have exemptions for taverns.

Rep. Mark Gottlieb, a Republican from Port Washington, and Sen. Alberta Darling, a Republican from River Hills, have proposed legislation that would effectively do just that. Their bill would eliminate the designated smoking areas from places of employment, except those that get 75 percent of their revenue from the sale of alcohol.