Wisconsin’s smokers are taking their last puffs inside, but for a couple more days there are still many places where one can legally light up indoors. That changes Monday, when the state’s smoking ban takes effect. At Ripp’s Bar in Waunakee, smoking customers don’t see the logic in the new law. “I think that if you have a smoking ban, it should be at least illegal to have smoking materials such as cigarettes,” one patron told WIBA. “If cigarettes were illegal, I would say that would be a fine ban.” A non-smoking customer, however, was quite angered over the new law. “Until they start paying the taxes for the proprietor and the customers, they should keep their damn nose out of it,” he sputtered. “Hell no, I’m not a smoker, but I’m a big taxpayer, and I don’t like people sticking their nose into my business.”
Ripp’s, like many other taverns around the state, is planning some remodeling to accommodate smoking customers. “He is putting a patio in to accommodate the people, because probably three quarters of the people that come in here are smokers,” said a female patron. “Will it hurt his business? Absolutely. It’s going to cost him money to accommodate the smokers. That’s why I think it should be an establishment’s decision.” In Dane County, all towns went smoke free last August, and most municipalities have also gone the smoke free route. The statewide smoking ban kicks in on Monday at Ripp’s and every place else in Wisconsin.
AUDIO: WIBA‘s Robin Colbert (:40)
