WITI-TV, MILWAUKEE -
On July 5th, the statewide smoking ban goes into effect. That means restaurants and bars will have to find new ways to allow their customers to continue smoking while at their establishment. FOX6 went to the Wisconsin Restaurant Expo to see how that might be possible.
Restaurant Owner Mark Dougherty is trying to find a new way to accommodate smokers at his Appleton restaurant. "I think they'll gravitate to an area they fell comfortable in. where they can slip outside and have a smoke and come back in...I would like to make it if I can have a roof, if I can have some wind blowers."
Even though the state smoking ban goes into effect on July 5th, the regulations for a structure to protect smokers from the elements are not yet set.
Wisconsin Restaurant Association Director of Government Relations Pete Hanson has been getting a lot of questions by business owners about the possible changes. "It's a little bit fluid because the state Department of Commerce has administrative rule authority and they've drafted some rules that would kind of tighten up what's allowed as far as outdoor structures...I'm recommending that they hold off and wait to see what happens."
However Kent Forsland says he has designed a structure that would meet any of the regulations that will go into effect, because his Cabreeze has a retractable roof and walls that open. "From everything I've heard our structures will comply with the more tighter smoking ban regulations."
Many restuarants are still waiting for the new rules to be set.
A public hearing will be held at the Department of Commerce in Madison on April 6th to discuss the regulations regarding structures for smoking.
Restaurant Owner Mark Dougherty is trying to find a new way to accommodate smokers at his Appleton restaurant. "I think they'll gravitate to an area they fell comfortable in. where they can slip outside and have a smoke and come back in...I would like to make it if I can have a roof, if I can have some wind blowers."
Even though the state smoking ban goes into effect on July 5th, the regulations for a structure to protect smokers from the elements are not yet set.
Wisconsin Restaurant Association Director of Government Relations Pete Hanson has been getting a lot of questions by business owners about the possible changes. "It's a little bit fluid because the state Department of Commerce has administrative rule authority and they've drafted some rules that would kind of tighten up what's allowed as far as outdoor structures...I'm recommending that they hold off and wait to see what happens."
However Kent Forsland says he has designed a structure that would meet any of the regulations that will go into effect, because his Cabreeze has a retractable roof and walls that open. "From everything I've heard our structures will comply with the more tighter smoking ban regulations."
Many restuarants are still waiting for the new rules to be set.
A public hearing will be held at the Department of Commerce in Madison on April 6th to discuss the regulations regarding structures for smoking.
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