Posted on 07/17/2002 10:47:58 AM PDT by 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.
There needs to be a website offering free advertising to all restaurants that do offer smoking areas. It needs to be named very similar to the other website.
Every move they make should be countered.
Celebrities that get on a political bandwagon make me sick.
As if anything GREEN says is going to make people stop smoking! He needs a life, and I don't think its football!
Amen! For sure. There should be a web site in here telling people where there are places that do accomodate us.
It's only fair.
Notice that it doesn't say that SHS CAUSED Green's asthma but it sure does imply it.
He voluntarily decided to take a job that will subject his body to grueling physical punishment (hey, good luck on the future arthritis thing), and then whines about other people choosing to treat their bodies how they want, because it might interfere with his asthma.
I thought professional football players were men - guess I was wrong.
The anti's are using this second hand smoke issue like they just discovered some GOD. I'm really getting a little sick of it, Joe.
Their war on the smoker didn't work, now they are using our second hand smoke telling everyone it's killing them. What BS!
Like I said: Celebrities get on a political bandwagon make me sick.
As if anything GREEN says is going to make people stop smoking! He needs a life, and I don't think its football!
They'll have to say in their homes with the doors and windows locked.
And good riddance.
Let me guess...the next Packer to do a PSA will be Najeh Davenport, on the dangers of alcohol abuse:That would be a rather crappy thing for him to do."Kids, don't do it. Binge drinking messes up your mind and makes you do stupid things. Trust me. I know."
-Eric
Is this your DADDY????
I won't care how UNCOOL it is to light my smoke in public. As long as it's not against the law, and sometimes maybe when it is, I will continue to smoke in public.
If for no other reason just to tick off people like you.
I'm not sure whether you actually agree with the current reasoning banning smokers from public places or taxing tobacco so outrageously or whether you just don't really understand that it could be YOU next.
In any case, smarten up before you're put into the reeducation camp for something.
Only an easily swayed weakling would be intimidated by the "uncoolness" factor.
That would probably be an important consideration for you, though.
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