Sonoma County: Highest smoking rate in Bay Area

Sonoma County has the maximum smoking rate in the Bay Area, according to a survey released this week by the California Tobacco Control Program.

More than 16 percent of county residents smoke cigarettes, more than two times the rate of neighboring Marin County, which had the lowest proportion of smokers in the state 7.3 percent.

The results took some local experts by shock. Sonoma County has lately been making waves as an anti-smoking locale with cities such as Sebastopol passing tight restrictions on smoking, even in apartments. Santa Rosa is being asked to follow suit.