But if Gov. Jim Doyle's proposal to ban smoking in all bars, restaurants and public places is passed, Albright might have to take his cigarettes outside.,”

Marquette graduate Shaunn Albright often comes back to campus to have a few beers and good conversation at Angelo's Bar. At the same time, he also likes to smoke.

But if Gov. Jim Doyle's proposal to ban smoking in all bars, restaurants and public places is passed, Albright might have to take his cigarettes outside.

"It ain't gonna happen," said a hopeful Albright, a 1999 Marquette graduate.

The governor's proposal also includes an increase in the state cigarette tax by $1.25 from the current 77 cent rate. The new $2.02 tax, which will be part of Doyle's upcoming budget, would make Wisconsin's cigarette tax one of the highest in the country.

In addition, Doyle said the state will be refinancing tobacco settlement bonds within the next few weeks, which would generate $30 million a year in interest. These funds, along with revenue from the new cigarette tax, would help fund smoking cessation programs and pay for the cost of smoking related illnesses.

For Doyle, coupling the smoking ban with an increase in the cigarette tax "all fits together." He also predicted that similar anti-smoking movements will be made within the next 15 years anyway, so waiting longer isn't worth it.

"To improve public health, we must confront public health's No. 1 enemy – the scourge of tobacco," Doyle said, when he made the announcement Jan. 24.

Doyle reiterated his intentions during Tuesday's State of the State address in Madison.

But for some area bar patrons, smoking and taverns go hand in hand.

"If you know you're going into a place where there's going to be smokers and you don't want to be there, don't go there," Albright said. "If you don't want to be around smoke, why would you go somewhere where there's going to be smoke?"

Not all bars, however, are "smokers' bars," according to Mike Vitucci, owner of Caffrey's and Murphy's bars. He said only 20 percent of his bar patrons are smokers, and a smoking ban wouldn't have a big effect on his business.

"I think (smokers) will come to the bar because they don't want to miss out on all the fun," he said.

Vitucci said smoking patrons could smoke outside, even during winter, as both of his bars on campus have outdoor heated patios.

Doyle and supporters of the increase in the tax argue that raising the rate will cause more smokers to quit.

But Albright isn't planning on quitting any time soon.

"People are still going to pay it," he said. "They think by raising it people aren't going to pay it."

Other smokers like Ryan Roskopf, a student in the College of Professional Studies, said they appreciate the help this legislation could give to those trying to kick the habit.

"I'm planning on quitting anyway," said Rosko, who smokes a pack a week. "I think it's a good thing to make people think about stopping or not starting."

Initially, it was thought Doyle would only ask for a $1 increase in the cigarette tax. But only a sharp increase in the cigarette tax will lead to a decline in smoking, he said.

"To really drive smoking down, you've got to have that shock to this," Doyle said. "A dollar and a quarter will really have a very, very sharp effect on smoking rates."

Doyle was hopeful that members of both parties could get behind his anti-smoking campaign, but it's not likely to happen. Opponents said an increase in taxes is the wrong way to go.

"Now is not the right time to be taking more money out of the pockets of Wisconsin consumers," said State Senate Minority Leader Scott Fitzgerald (R-Juneau) in a statement. "The last thing Wisconsin families can afford is another tax hike."

The least-expensive pack of cigarettes at Kampus Foods, 1414 W. Wells St., is a $2.75 pack of Grand Prix. The most expensive is a $6.00 pack of Djarum.

Wisconsin would have the fourth highest cigarette tax in the country, behind New Jersey ($2.58), Rhode Island ($2.46), and Washington state ($2.025), according to Campaign for Tobacco Free Kids, a nonprofit advocacy group. Chicago has the highest combined federal, state and local cigarette taxes in the nation ($3.66).

Wisconsin would also join 16 other states that have already passed smoking bans for restaurants and bars.

Judy Haas, who smokes while she works at Angelo's, said she would have to adjust if Doyle's smoking ban is passed by the legislature.

"I would just go downstairs (to smoke) where it wouldn't affect anybody up here," she said. "And I'd be down there a lot."

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