Madison bartenders are doing less coughing and wheezing since the July 2005 city smoking ban came into effect, according to the findings of a recent respiratory health study by UW-Madison researchers.
""I used to have a sore throat all the time and that went away within a couple months and breathing is a little easier. I'm sure I'm healthier because of it but I thought I would see a bigger difference,"" said Ian Miller, general manager at the Plaza Tavern.
The study, conducted by Dr. Karen Palmersheim and Dr. Patrick Remington of the Paul P. Carbone Comprehensive Cancer Center, evaluated the health of bartenders working both before and after Madison's Smokefree Ordinance. It found a significant decrease in upper respiratory health symptoms for bartenders since the ban began.
The study was based on 1,500 bar tenders in Madison and Appleton—another Wisconsin city with a bar smoking ban. Palmersheim and Remington surveyed the bartenders two months prior to the ban and approximately one year later.
""The study findings we're really focusing on were those bartenders reporting to be non smokers,"" said Palmersheim. ""Amongst those bar tenders who were non smokers we saw significant decreases in reported upper respiratory symptoms of all eight symptoms we were measuring.""
Results also showed an improvement in the health of active smokers, though to less of an extent.
Although the ban seems to have had a positive effect on the health of bar employees, Miller acknowledged a decrease in patronage immediately following the ban.
""It's basically changed the bar culture. People have to compensate for being outside when they smoke so people migrate to different bars a little more often. Also, it's a bit harder for us to do security at the door,"" Miller said
A spokesperson for Gov. Jim Doyle said the study's findings support the governor's proposal of a statewide smoking ban for all bars and restaurants in Wisconsin.
""People in Wisconsin have been supportive of a statewide smoking ban because they know that it helps improve the health of workers in Wisconsin,"" said Doyle spokesperson Carla Vigue.
""The governor is proposing the statewide ban because it levels the playing field so that all businesses have the same rules to follow.""
Dr. Palmersheim has no immediate plans to repeat the study but she noted similar studies conducted in California and Scotland had comparable findings.
""I think when you start adding up the findings across these various studies, that's pretty strong supporting evidence,"" Palmersheim said.
