NIMBYs inch closer toward literalism after Rocklin resident James Baker asked the City Council to ban outdoor smoking altogether, even for residents who wish to puff relaxing, cancer-causing cigarettes on their own property. How did Baker get such a carcinogenic bee in his bonnet? Baker told The Placer Herald that his neighbor smokes about 30 feet from his patio door. The secondhand smoke, he claims, is making his asthmatic sons, ages 11 and 16, sick. more ›

If you woke up to 2012 with your mouth tasting like an ashtray, as we're sure many of you did, you can take some solace in knowing it wasn't entirely due to overconsumption of cheap champagne and Parliament lights. The rare air in the Bay Area is literally clogged with the soot of a smoldering 2011. While we dig the idea of saying goodbye to the old year with a blazing Viking funeral it's not exactly making it easy to breathe around here. more ›

Over the past year, the San Francisco Health Department has tirelessly worked to shutdown the scourge known as hookah lounges. For those not in the know, hookah lounges are a rite of passage for anyone new to the Bay Area. At these cesspools of moral bankruptcy, one can partake in smoking innocuous, flavored tobacco (which violates the indoor smoking ban) while ordering a side of dolmas or hummus and pita triangles. They're as bad as Hitler. more ›

The owner of Borderlands Cafe and Borderland Books in the Mission is apparently not pleased about San Francisco's smoking laws. Here's what he has to say in the above sign: more ›

Cigarettes we mean. Roughly 13 percent of San Franciscans still smoke tobacco (yes, clarification is necessary) according to a report released by the California Department of Public Health yesterday. The Examiner* notes that figure is down from the 19.5 percent of San Franciscans who smoked in the last days of Joe Camel in 1996. Despite the city's many bans and taxes on cigarette smoking since then we're still getting beat by our health-conscious neighbors in SoCal: Only 11% of San Diego smokes, and LA is down to 10%. more ›

Although approved by the Board of Supervisors in March, a law banning smoking on restaurant patios went into effect this week. "Restaurants must not post signs advising customers they can only smoke at the curb or in a spot that is at least 15 feet from exits, entrances, windows and vents," reports KTVU/AP. "Failure to comply could cost restaurants a $500 fine." This is terrible news great news because now we can all be a little bit healthier. Delightful. more ›

You damn well ought to be able to buy your smokes at Walgreen's if you can buy them at Safeway, says Justice William McGuiness of the First Appelate District Court. The court ruled 3-0 yesterday that San Francisco's citywide ban on cigarette sales at drugstores was "flimsy on its face" given that they do not extend the ban to grocery stores that have pharmacies. more ›

Yesterday, the almighty Board of Supervisors approved an ordinance "expanding the city's regulations against public smoking." That is to say, you can no longer light up a smooth, relaxing stick of solace at in any outdoor restaurant dining areas, in service waiting areas (like lines for ATMs, concerts, movie theaters, sporting events, taxis and bus stop shelters), multi-unit housing, and at farmers markets, homeless shelters, and charity bingo games, and within 15 feet of business doorways. more ›

Perhaps due to the recent surge in popularity from neighboring Blackbird, Castro bar Amber (located at 718 14th Street) will celebrate for the last time on New Year's Eve. One of San Francisco's favorite divey hangouts -- minus the affected PBR-swilling cycling sect, which, really, is what set it apart from the rest -- the bar was best know for being (among other things) one of the few places in which you could still puff away on a Camel Light while waiting to use the john. more ›

Though it was shot down last year by local businesses, on Tuesday the city reintroduced legislation that would bar the merciful release of nicotine "near the doors, vents and operable windows of any building, including restaurants, shops, offices and housing complexes." more ›

Now this is our kind of Muni bus driver. Travis Jensen, who snapped this shot, reports, "This San Francisco MUNI driver was spotted smoking a cigarette on the bus yesterday, Tuesday, November 10, at approximately 5:05p.m." Read more about this harrowing tale here. more ›

If you're heading down to Santa Cruz this weekend to buy and take illicit drugs -- a common practice in a city that seems to have crashed into the side of California -- remember on thing: you won't be able to smoke outdoors starting today. IN certain areas, at least. Santa Cruz's outdoor smoking ban went into effect today. According to KTVU, "[a] new ordinance, approved by the City Council on Sept. 22, prohibits smoking on Pacific Avenue, Beach Street between the Santa Cruz Municipal Wharf and Third Street, and West Cliff Drive." Over the last ten years, Pacific Avenue -- once a bastion of unwashed, methed out looking for a tuppence or two -- has turned into more of a boutique street. more ›

This man us standing close enough to the bus stop that everyone -- including some kids -- cam smell him. If he reeked of garbage or beets, it would be considered rude, and he'd be embarrassed to know that everyone is edging away so they don't have to breathe him in. Smokers? Not so much. more ›

This morning, a fresh new ordinance went into effect: cigarette addicts now must pay 20 cents extra per pack "in order cover the costs of cleaning up discarded cigarette butts throughout the city." The very first tax of its kind in the U.S., KTVU says, "The fee will be collected from retailers and will go specifically to city departments that conduct street cleanup of cigarette butts." more ›

UPDATE: The artist is Hugh Leeman, and he'll be showing his work at White Walls on August 8th. more ›

There's nothing worse than the smell of a fresh cigarette stub on Muni (aside from the less frequent bodily functions or a burrito in the process of being eaten). more ›

Anti-smoking gestapo are asking President Barack Obama to "provide a teachable moment and become the 'First Quitter,'" by getting help for his nicotine addiction. While not a pack-a-day kind of guy, Obama bills himself as a part-time smoker. Still, according to Dr. Joseph DiFranza, Professor of Family Health at the University of Massachusetts Medical Center, "There are a few people who really truly are social smokers, who aren’t addicted, and they just smoke for whatever pleasure they can get out of the cigarette. They might just do it once a year, or when they’re in a bar for instance ... I wouldn’t call them recreational smokers if they’re having a hard time quitting. Anyone who has a hard time quitting is addicted by my definition.” We think waiting a year would be a better idea of the President Obama; we'd hate for him to have to focus on recovery while trying to get through his first year in the Oval Office. If you recall, President Bartlet also had trouble chasing the nicotine dragon. He smoked two cigarettes a day but did it outside. more ›

Initiating one of the toughest city college smoking bans, San Jose City College has kicked off an extreme no-smoking ban. In addition to the typical smoke-free rules inside of all buildings, the ban also includes all areas outside of classrooms and in student gathering areas. That is to say, you can't light up anywhere at San Jose City College. Ever. This tough ban on cancer-causing delight was sparked after San Jose City College administrators received numerous complaints from whiny students about "having to endure clouds of smoke coming from smokers near the classrooms." more ›

Gone are the days of free love, free LSD, and freedom to eat whatever you want. After last week's historic decision to make San Francisco the first in the country to ban the sale of cigarettes in pharmacies Walgreens and Rite Aid stores, City Hall isn't stopping there. The Board of Supes also wants to bar you from lighting up in city parks, ATM lines, and common areas of apartment buildings; voted for chain restaurants to post nutritional information on menus; have shunned delicious trans-fats (which is semi-ridiculous since high fructose corn syrup is the real enemy, but that's an entirely different post altogether); charge restaurants a fee for selling sugary sodas (which is good since Diet Coke tastes better); and close down city streets in an effort to get you to participate in mass jazzercise. more ›

The entertaining/controversial Chris Daly, who seems a bit quiet as of late, has a new target now: wafts of cigarette smoke. We're told that his latest push of legislation "calls for a smoking ban outside of restaurants, in waiting areas, within 20 feet of nonresidential buildings," and in common areas of apartment buildings. That is to say, you might have to look elsewhere to spark up that Capri or Virgina Slim while eating out. The Board of Supervisors will vote on the measure come Thursday. more ›

Although we're only occasional smokers (read: when we're drunk or feeling awkward at a party), we sympathize with the need to have a cigarette. And while the smoking ban at bars and everywhere else has kept everyone relatively secondhand smoke free, the constant browbeating smokers receive from non-smokers is enough to make the anarchists in us want to light up in front of all the naysayers. more ›

Congratulations, Oakland (29th), Fremont (32nd), and San Francisco (34th) -- you made it on the top 50 drunkest cities in the U.S. list. At least, according to the December issue of the body dysmorphia-inducing rag Men's Health Magazine. The rankings are based on alcohol-related liver deaths, "binge drinking data compiled by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention," FBI-culled drunk driving arrest numbers, death-related auto accidents that involved booze, and "grades given to cities... more ›

-- Ross Mirkarimi, sole supe against Clear Channel. [SFBG] more ›

Photo of people smoking in the park more ›

The city of Belmont -- a most magical place somewhere along this place called the Peninsula -- banned smoking in "multiunit dwellings" yesterday. Breaking the law could result in a $1,000 fine. more ›

We used to think we couldn't stand Sean Penn, but he never really did anything to deserve our ire. He's talented; seems to have similar political to ours; married to her, wonderful her; surfs; from Southern California; lives in the Bay Area; and above all else, is attractive. Then we figured it out: we didn't hate Sean Penn, we feared him. He seems like the kind of guy who could and would kick our ass right-quick if he ever encountered us. more ›

One day we're planning a going-away party there, and then -- ta-da! -- it's gone. Wired workers' favorite watering hole and one of the last dive's around the Eastern SOMA area, the Eagle Drift-In Lounge was a good place for cheap booze, comfy booth seating, playing a game of darts, or to catch our favorite pregnant smoking bartender making a drink, waiting for that call from CPS. more ›

-- Norman Nsu to return to Redwood City. [ABC7] more ›

Today, the Oakland City Council voted to ban smoking in "ATM lines, parks and other public places," which is smurfy, health-conscious, makes the bitch behind you at the ATM line stops her self-righteous fake coughing, will result in animated birds singing on your shoulders, etcetera. more ›

Seeing as how the Summer of Love was the single most important event in the history of time and space, we thought it would be delightful of us to review a smattering of Summer of Love anniversary reviews for you. In no particular order, discover the music, elderly genitalia, and abundance of ATMs you missed. more ›