More smoke in S.F. than in other urban counties

SFGate.com ^ | 12/21/10 | Victoria Colliver

[NormsRevenge]

More San Francisco adults smoke than those in most other urban and suburban counties in California, according to data on smoking rates released by state health officials Monday.

The numbers, which are based on 2008 data and for the first time include statistics from every county, show that adult smoking rates statewide have dropped 42 percent since 1988 to the lowest levels ever - 13.1 percent. That makes California second to Utah, which has the country's fewest smokers per capita.

Counties that are more urban and suburban tend to have significantly lower smoking rates than rural areas. Exceptions in California include San Francisco, an urban county, and Sacramento, home of the state Capitol and outlying suburbs.

Densely populated counties had an average adult smoking rate of 10.9 percent, compared with 13.5 percent in San Francisco and 14 percent in Sacramento.

"We're like 40 percent higher than L.A., which is very surprising," said Dr. Stanton Glantz, a professor of medicine and director of UCSF's Center for Tobacco Control Research and Education. Los Angeles had a smoking prevalence of 10.4 percent.

[NormsRevenge]

It used to be opium and wood smoke back in the day .. now it's more likely to turn out to be 'medicinal' marijuana and diesel luxury cars&coaches emissions.. a sign of the times..

[Gen. Burkhalter]

Smoking what, though?

[Old Retired Army Guy]

San Francisco residents have “issues”.

[WayneS]

In San Francisco?

Probably “pickles”.

[circlecity]

These smokers are the same people banning Happy Meals.

[sappy]

pole smoking

[mikey_hates_everything]

It’s from all of that pole smoking.

[Venturer]

Smoking White Owls.

[Lonesome in Massachussets]

Could be Hispanics...

[AppyPappy]

Homosexuals are more likely to be smokers than heteros. I guess they think it looks glamorous.

[Mr. Jeeves]

Lots of Asians in SF, and even the younger ones tend to smoke more than US Caucasians.

[martin_fierro]

Man, you haven't lived until you've been scolded, on the Fourth of July, in a public, open air park, by a Chinese expat, about how your cigar smoking is harmful "fo' tha chilllrun...".

[samtheman]

Homosexuals are more likely to be smokers than heteros. I guess they think it looks glamorous.

Plus, their lifestyle is a bit on the nerve-wracking side. Trying to constantly justify to themselves who and what they are. All the while living under the threat of AIDS.

[Abathar]

Yep, they don’t care what it does to them but what they look like now. Smoking goes hand in hand with weight loss, riding a constant nicotine buzz helps keep them from being labeled a “bear” by the skinny queers.

[Allegra]

Man, you haven't lived until you've been scolded, on the Fourth of July, in a public, open air park, by a Chinese expat, about how your cigar smoking is harmful "fo' tha chilllrun...".

LOL - I had a robed Kuwaiti man click his tongue disapprovingly at me in Kuwait Airport a few days ago as I was having a smoke.

I smiled, clicked my tongue back and muttered "can't even defend your own country," under my breath as I took another puff.

It bugs 'em to see American women acting like American women and I love that it bugs them. :)

[ansel12]

It helps keep the weight down also, they do not want to look like a suburban dad.

[crosshairs]

Not enough KY lotion = too much friction

[eXe]

Wow, amazing. Makes me glad I left California, I would have to have told that guy off. I had about enough of them telling me how to live and random strangers minding my business.

[samtheman]

AIDS and smoking... in combination add up to a really trendy svelte look.

[swarthyguy]

Well, at least in Kuwait Airport, you can have a smoke unlike so many other airports anymore.

Your little eye contact with the Kuwaiti reminds me of a refrain by a local singer’s original song, part of which runs....

“I love youI love youI love you,
“I hate youI hate youI hate you”