The Wisconsin Tobacco Quit Line announced Thursday that in the first two months of 2008, it fielded a record-breaking 20,000 calls from Wisconsinites looking to quit smoking. In a typical year, the quit line receives 9,000 calls.
The statistics are a good indication the state's $1 increase in the tobacco excise tax is working, as is continuing education about the dangers of smoking and tobacco in general.
And it lends more credence that a statewide smoking ban isn't really necessary. Enough people are quitting on their own, and enough business owners are seeing the positives of being a smoke-free facility.
Dr. Michael Fiore, director of the University of Wisconsin Center for Tobacco Research, which manages the quit line, said Wisconsin's quit line success is unrivaled elsewhere.
"National peers who provide quit services in other states report they have never before seen such a successful state effort to help smokers quit," Fiore said.
The quit line believes three factors led to the surge, the biggest being the $1 tax increase, followed by New Year's resolutions and free coaching and medication provided through the quit line.
Ninety percent of the callers, or about 18,000, were tobacco users. Ninety-six percent requested further assistance.
The result could be a positive impact on health-care costs associated with smoking. A lower smoking rate also reduces the suffering of families affected by smoking-related disease. A lower smoking rate also may make some business owners reconsider allowing smoking in their establishments.
The news of the increased tax's apparent effect on smoking levels comes as the Legislature continues to work on a smoking ban in public places. Momentum seems to be toward approving a ban, but giving the state's bars and restaurants three years to "prepare" for its effects.
This compromise is ridiculous. Either there should be a ban everywhere, or nowhere at all. As we've said before, we don't think the government should be dictating to private businesses how they handle their smoking policies. Those decisions should be left up to private business owners.
More business owners are realizing the benefit of going smoke-free, but it should be left up to them. If the quit line continues its surge of phone calls, there may be fewer people frequenting businesses that allow smoking.
At that point, some business owners may see the writing on the wall and go smoke-free, and will be more successful. Others may cater to a shrinking clientele of smokers, all in the interest of what's best for business.
The statistics are a good indication the state's $1 increase in the tobacco excise tax is working, as is continuing education about the dangers of smoking and tobacco in general.
And it lends more credence that a statewide smoking ban isn't really necessary. Enough people are quitting on their own, and enough business owners are seeing the positives of being a smoke-free facility.
Dr. Michael Fiore, director of the University of Wisconsin Center for Tobacco Research, which manages the quit line, said Wisconsin's quit line success is unrivaled elsewhere.
"National peers who provide quit services in other states report they have never before seen such a successful state effort to help smokers quit," Fiore said.
The quit line believes three factors led to the surge, the biggest being the $1 tax increase, followed by New Year's resolutions and free coaching and medication provided through the quit line.
Ninety percent of the callers, or about 18,000, were tobacco users. Ninety-six percent requested further assistance.
The result could be a positive impact on health-care costs associated with smoking. A lower smoking rate also reduces the suffering of families affected by smoking-related disease. A lower smoking rate also may make some business owners reconsider allowing smoking in their establishments.
The news of the increased tax's apparent effect on smoking levels comes as the Legislature continues to work on a smoking ban in public places. Momentum seems to be toward approving a ban, but giving the state's bars and restaurants three years to "prepare" for its effects.
This compromise is ridiculous. Either there should be a ban everywhere, or nowhere at all. As we've said before, we don't think the government should be dictating to private businesses how they handle their smoking policies. Those decisions should be left up to private business owners.
More business owners are realizing the benefit of going smoke-free, but it should be left up to them. If the quit line continues its surge of phone calls, there may be fewer people frequenting businesses that allow smoking.
At that point, some business owners may see the writing on the wall and go smoke-free, and will be more successful. Others may cater to a shrinking clientele of smokers, all in the interest of what's best for business.
