Green Bay Packer Demonstrates the Dangers of Secondhand Smoke/BARF ALERT

Yahoo News ^ | 17 July 2002 | Wisconsin Tobacco Control Board

[SheLion]

GREEN BAY, Wis., July 17 /PRNewswire/ -- Green Bay Packer Ahman Green's participation in a Wisconsin ad campaign designed to raise awareness about the dangers of secondhand smoke was unveiled today. Green will be part of a series of television and radio advertisements that launched early-June and are being broadcast throughout Wisconsin. The new ads use personal stories told by Wisconsin residents who have suffered the effects of secondhand smoke.

Green is not a smoker himself, but he grew up in a household with a smoker and was diagnosed with asthma at age 14. The 25-year-old running back has to pay special attention to avoid smoke-filled environments in order to perform at his best. His personal experience and concerns for his own health and that of others has inspired him to share his story in hopes that it will lead to a smoke-free Wisconsin.

"Because my asthma is aggravated by secondhand smoke, I have to be very careful where I go. My options of which restaurants to eat at or what places I can go to often depend on whether there will be cigarette smoke in the air," says Green. "This can be frustrating and limiting, but staying healthy is important to me and vital to my career."

Green is featured in a television ad that takes place in a cafe. As he enters the smoke-filled cafe, he slips an oxygen mask over his face. The ad conveys the message that secondhand smoke can have serious effects on a nonsmoker. One of the most obvious places where cigarette smoke lingers is in bars and restaurants. Kathie Bundy, pub owner and performer from Manitowoc, WI is featured, along with Ahman Green, in the campaign ads. Bundy opened Stage Door Saloon, one of just a few nonsmoking pubs in Wisconsin. She is featured in a television ad that takes place in a smoke-filled restaurant. Bundy's story is meant to encourage other restaurants and bars to go smoke- free.

"Between concerns about my own health and complaints from nonsmoking customers, I decided that it was the right decision to go smoke-free," Bundy says. "Of course I had concerns about the repercussions this decision would have on my business, but the pub is as busy as ever and customers are happy they have a place to go that isn't filled with smoke."

Restaurant owners who are currently smoke-free or those owners who are considering making their restaurant smoke-free, can advertise their restaurant free of charge on the new Wisconsin Smoke-free Online Dining Guide. Owners simply log onto WWW.HADENOUGHWISCONSIN.COM , enter the Smoke-free Dining Guide section and submit requested information. All restaurant details will be verified and then posted. The new site feature was designed to encourage restaurants to go smoke-free and to support restaurant owners and customers that prefer a smoke-free environment.

The secondhand smoke media campaign is a component of the WTCB's statewide initiative for smoke-free restaurants, work sites, municipal buildings and homes. Each ad contains a tag line that directs viewers to the hadenoughwisconsin.com web site where visitors can share their own stories or seek help in quitting smoking.

The Wisconsin Tobacco Control Board is a Governor-appointed Board charged with developing a strategic plan, allocating funds and evaluating the effectiveness of Wisconsin's tobacco prevention and control efforts. The Board is comprised of state and local leaders representing businesses, education, health care, public health and political leaders from across the state.

[metesky]

Until ordinances were passed prohibiting it about 15 to 20 years ago (at least in my hometown in the DFW metroplex) it was common for people to smoke in line in banks, grocery stores, the ticket line for the cinema in the mall, etc. I am particularly aware of the banks, because at the time I worked in one.

IIRC, the banks in those halcyon days put ashtrays in front of each tellers window to accomodate their customers.

I personally long for a return of spitoons to the public square.

[VRWCmember]

Hey Gabz. Where are you?

This is a pretty interesting thread and for the most part the conversation has not gotten too nasty and hateful.

[Madame Dufarge]

What people am I?

The people who ran to the teacher to rat out anyone who broke the rules.

The people who never got chosen in a pick-up game.

The people nobody wanted to hang out with because they couldn't trust.

You.

[justshutupandtakeit]

I have had to stop smokers from smoking on a crowded city bus several times. They act like they are daring someone to say or do something about it. I accept the dare.

[brewcrew]

Considerate smokers recognize the right of non-smokers to breathe clean air.

Considerate non-smokers recognize the right of smokers to partake in a legal product.

So what we have is not smokers and non-smokers, but considerate and inconsiderate people.

As a parent and a smoker, I consider it far more important that my son learn how to be considerate than it is for him to be programmed to be a non-smoker.

Inconsiderate smokers inflict their second hand smoke on others who do not wish it. Inconsiderate non-smokers believe it is right to indignantly proclaim to the world that smoking is evil, and they never miss an opportunity to do so, do they?

[VRWCmember]

The people who ran to the teacher to rat out anyone who broke the rules.
The people who never got chosen in a pick-up game.
The people nobody wanted to hang out with because they couldn't trust.

OK. (Sounds like someone is having some seriously unresolved childhood issues here, and you said that I need to grow up. Thanks for the laugh.)

[Madame Dufarge]

could you cite a single example of someone, somewhere smoking in a line in a bank or store?

Until ordinances were passed prohibiting it about 15 to 20 years ago (at least in my hometown in the DFW metroplex) it was common for people to smoke in line in banks

Please, you know I was talking about today, not 15 or 20 years ago.

Hey, what about Aaron Burr, if we can reach back as far as we want, relevant or not?

[Madame Dufarge]

Nice try.

I know it's the best you can do, so I don't fault you for it.

Let your reach exceed your grasp, and keep trying.

[RedBloodedAmerican]

So since your going to die anyhow, may as well die of lung cancer, eh? What a life.

[RedBloodedAmerican]

They may. Heck, how can they care about others if they dont care about themselves?

[Madame Dufarge]

They may. Heck, how can they care about others if they dont care about themselves?

How very "It Takes A Village" of you.

[Lovergirl]

I will say again what I have said before. Nonsmokers need to STAY OUT of restaurants/bars where people smoke. Then you won't be offended. Quit complaining and STAY AWAY. It's THAT simple. BTW, it's been proven that second hand smoke does NOT cause lung cancer.

[Paulie]

"Celebrities that get on a political bandwagon make me sick."

You and me both.

[RedBloodedAmerican]

You're lying. It is proven 2nd hand smoke DOES cause lung cancer, and lets change that to smokers need to stay out of places where people are entitled to breathe the fresh air their bodies where designed for. You people are the ones who are nazis, not the other way around. Imagine if some religious person was "cramming" their lifestyle into your area. What a hoot! you people are hypocrites!

[Madame Dufarge]

So since your going to die anyhow, may as well die of lung cancer, eh? What a life.

Better that than what someone else dies of is a concern of yours.

Unless of course you're convinced that the collective should decide not only how someone lives but also how they should die.

[Lovergirl]

NO, YOU ARE THE PHONY HERE. YOU HAVE MORE RIGHTS THEN WE DO, SO GO AWAY.

[RedBloodedAmerican]

By all means, have at it. here is what your lungs will look like. I may come back to include some shots of chemo patients, but not too many make it past lung cancer

Healthy lung

Cancerous lung

Have a nice life.

[Madame Dufarge]

You're lying. It is proven 2nd hand smoke DOES cause lung cancer

Links, please to the "proof."

[RedBloodedAmerican]

I dont have "links". I have a family member dying of it. I wish you had one also so you would know for yourself. I am sure that does not offend you since you dont care.

[Lovergirl]

I did and it was horrible. but it wasn't smoking, it was something else. My doctor died of lung cancer and he never smoked in his life and he stayed away from people who did.