If the Breathe Free Wisconsin (BFW) Act is passed, Wisconsinites will finally be able to enjoy their meals and workday without cigarette smoke. This legislation would stop the current infringement upon the rights of non-smokers. While all adults have the right to smoke, that right must be limited when it infringes upon someone else’s right to good health.

Wisconsinites should have the ability to work in and frequent comfortable atmospheres that are not filled with carcinogens and the stench of smoke. While it’s true that patrons may choose not to give their business to smoky establishments, employees lack that flexibility.

Second-hand smoke can cause esophageal and lung cancer, as well as other maladies, such as asthma and heart attacks. According to CancerCare, a nonprofit organization which provides services for people affected by cancer, 29% of cancer deaths are from lung cancer. With the passage of the BFW Act, the potentially lethal carcinogens contained in smoke will be left for those who care to smoke in more appropriate locations such as their homes or outdoors. As a result, restaurants will become locations safe from vile smoke.

Critics of the act say it will hurt business. But banning smoking adds a whole new appeal to customers. Previously smoky businesses will enjoy the new business of people who currently avoid them because of the headaches and lingering odors caused by secondhand smoke. Acts mandating smoke-free public locations have not proven to have negative effects on business. In fact, businesses in smoke-free areas can expect to save money in cleaning and maintenance expenses. According to the Michigan Department of Community Health in the year 2000, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) reported that smoke-free restaurants can expect to save 190 dollars per 1,000 square foot each year. The EPA also reports that businesses can look to save four to eight billion dollars in building operations and maintenance per year.

In addition to it costing much money to maintain clean environments in smoking areas, the Journal of the American Medical Association wrote in 2005 that the United States Center for Disease Control (CDC) reported that cigarette smoke and secondhand smoke cost the U.S. 92 billion dollars in productivity annually. This detriment of money is due to the many trips to the doctor and days off caused by illnesses inflicted by cigarette smoke. Examples of these illnesses would be coughs, headaches and more serious health issues such as heart attacks. For each employee who smokes, the CDC also estimated a loss of 3,391 dollars, for both lost productivity and medical expenses. With the help of the BFW act, businesses across the board can look to saving a great sum of money.

The Society of Actuaries concluded in 2005 that secondhand smoke costs the U.S. economy almost ten billion dollars a year. The American Medical Journal reported that if all workplaces had a smoke-free policy, the U.S. would save 49 million dollars in the first year just from the reduced number of heart attacks caused by secondhand smoke.

It is time the health of the population, especially of the American workforce, was put above the self-interest of a few businesses.

As our entire country benefits from the money generated by smoke-free environments, Wisconsin will become a safer and healthier environment to flourish in. Secondhand smoke will wreck havoc on less innocent people, leaving its harm with those who choose to smoke.