Isle smoking rate
among U.S. lowest

Utah has the fewest smokers while
Kentucky has the most

From staff and wire reports

Hawaii has the lowest rate in the nation for sales of cigarette packs per person and the third lowest percentage of adult smokers, according to a government report.

The Mormon stand against tobacco kept smoking to about one in seven adults in Utah last year. That state had the lowest number of smokers - 13.7 percent. But 57 packs of cigarettes were sold per person.

California had the second lowers number of smokers, 18.4 percent, with 53.8 packs of cigarettes sold per person.

Hawaii held third place with 18.6 percent of adults smoking, and they smoked less than in any other state, at 49.1 packs per person during the year.

Kentucky led the pack, with nearly one in three adults lighting up in 1997.

Overall, the report by the federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention showed little change in smoking habits over the past few years.

Hawaii has held the third-lowest spot for smoking for about five years, said Julian Lipsher, coordinator of the state Health Department's Tobacco Prevention and Education Project.

"Getting to No. 1 would be hard," he said. "What makes Utah unique is the Mormon faith produces strong social norms. What we and California and other states are attempting to change are the norms that relate to tobacco use."

Hawaii laws and policies over the last six years, such as an increase in the cigarette excise tax up to $1, have had an impact on smokers, he said.

Laws relating to smoking in public places, increased protections against exposure to tobacco smoke, and smoking in the workplace or child care centers also have cut tobacco use, he said.