Bartenders and tavern owners adjust to smoking ban

Jul 6, 2010 — The Wisconsin State Journal

Barry Adams

Jul. 6, 2010 (McClatchy-Tribune Regional News delivered by Newstex) -- If your bartender is a little more surly than usual, please try to understand.

The statewide smoking ban is intended, in part, to make workplaces safer for employees, including bartenders, many of whom like to smoke.

Debbie Kampmeier, at Crapp's McFarland Tavern, typically smokes about a pack a day, but in the first three hours of her shift Monday she had not even gone through one cigarette.

It was only half gone, resting in an ashtray on the bar's back deck where bottles of Miller Lite and other alcoholic drinks are banned but where smoking is allowed.

"I'm just trying to keep myself busy," Kampmeier said, shortly after a noon rush for the featured prime rib sandwiches. "We all knew it was coming. Nobody's real happy about it, but I don't think it will impact our business."

Wisconsin's workplace smoking ban took effect Monday and prohibits, with a few exceptions, smoking in bars, restaurants and other workplaces. Violators can be fined $100 to $250. Businesses violating the law will be given a warning and then be subject to a maximum daily fine of $100, regardless of the number of violations.

"We realize the debate over going smoke-free was long and at times difficult," said Allison Miller, a spokeswoman with the American Cancer Society in Wisconsin. "We hope businesses view the transition to smoke-free as an opportunity to appeal to a larger customer base."

Some communities have had smoking bans for more than a decade. Madison enacted its ban in 2005.

Monday marked the first day that every business in the state was on a level, no-smoking playing field.

"Since everyone is in it, I think they'll be OK," Cassandra Grueneberg said of her daughter and son-in-law, Coco and Michael Crapp, who have owned the McFarland bar for more than 13 years.

The couple doubled the size of the back deck and added two plastic cigarette receptacles on the deck and one at the front door. They also plan to thoroughly clean the walls of the business, located in a historic building across the street from the village's library, Grueneberg said.

At Clayt's Corner Bar in Albany, about 30 miles south of Madison in eastern Green County, bartender Greg Statdfield opened the bar at 8:30 a.m. and by 3 p.m. would have typically finished off a dozen cigarettes. On Monday, he had smoked just four.

"It's getting to be kind of a long day about now," Statdfield said. Customers are "fully aware of (the law) and there is discussion of it, but what are you going to do?"

At the Outpost Bar and Grill in Cottage Grove, the smell of smoke remained, but the ashtrays had been removed. A patio with four picnic tables on the side of the business is the only option for those who want to smoke and drink.

Carol Altenberger, a cook at the business, said she thinks smoking customers may not stay as long, but the absence of smoke could increase the sale of burgers and fries.

"I may have to work harder," Altenberger said. "But that would be OK if we picked up more food business."

Across the street at the 1855 Saloon and Grill, which has been smoke-free since opening in 2007, manager Owen King didn't expect his business, to suffer even though there will be more dining options for those who don't like cigarette smoke.

"The more traffic both places get, the better for both of us," King said.

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