The more smoking is demonized, the more "cool" it becomes to teenagers.
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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.
Why don't you spend your time more productively dealing with your own irrational fears?
Why are you so terribly concerned with the state of my blackened lungs when I couldn't care less (except to the extent it harms me) about that large missing part in your brain that deals with reason?
The more smoking is demonized, the more "cool" it becomes to teenagers.
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"BUT I will vote to raise your taxes and regulate your cancer sticks."Thanks for showing that you are a Socialist on your very first post. I'm sure you won't be around here for very long.Whee The People signed up 2002-07-08
Guess what?
My father died of smoking-related disease at the age of 78, and didn't regret a minute of it because he was an actual adult and lived his life as he chose and knew the mortality rate was 100% for all of us.
He lived a full, neurosis-free life; and he spent most of it running full throttle from people like you.
He was right.
Did you ever notice how quickly people who come into a restaurant and want a non-smoking table change their minds when they are told there is a half hour wait then find out there is no wait for a smoking table? You are a bunch of whiny hypocrites. I don''t smoke but always go for the smoking section. Shorter lines, seats are more comfortable! HA HA!
What a bunch of BS!
My Father smoked and lived to 83, was healthy as a bull and DIDN'T die from smoking!
Blow it out your blow hole!
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Good riddance to freedom too, huh? And I have never smoked a single solitary cigarette in my entire life, but I believe in freedom to smoke in one's own home.
Really? What have I said that is either whiny or hypocritical?
btw, I wait the 30 minutes for the non-smoking table.
Grow up, will you?
I can't imagine being in a social situation where we'd ever meet; if we were, it'd be a classic case of "Feet, don't fail me now." You're the kind of person I've avoided my whole life.
When push comes to shove, I'm on the side of the people who don't sacrifice their entire life to worrying what they're going to die of.
You know, people like you.
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