Kentucky mandates fire-safe Cigarettes

Starting this month, every cigarette sold in Kentucky must be fire-safe. The Cigarettes feature special technology to help prevent fires, but some customers feel like they're the ones getting burned. "It's got little rings around it in a couple of spots," said Josh Hubbard, as he pointed to a fire-safe cigarette in the parking lot of Butch's in Williamsburg, Kentucky. Paper rings act like speed bumps, slowing the burn of the cigarette. Keep puffing to keep it lit. Stop, and it burns out. "I do understand why they did it, as a safety precaution," said Katie West. "I think that was good, but the Cigarettes don't taste near as good as they used to." The taste is one complaint. The other problem is the very quality that makes the cigarette less likely to start a fire. "If they set their cigarette down, it goes out immediately, so they're having to re-light it," said Victor Freeman, owner of Butch's. "I bought More Bics, so we'll sell More lighters." Freeman said business hasn't slowed since the law took effect April 1, but customers keep asking him if he has any leftover Cigarettes that aren't fire safe. "No one likes it," said Freeman. "But there's no alternative except to go to Tennessee and pay More. So they buy them and complain." Josh Hubbard sums up the problem: "Cigarettes taste like crap." Tennessee Cigarettes may taste better, but smokers who cross the border to buy a pack will pay a higher tax. The tax per pack in Tennessee used to be 20 cents. As of July 1, 2007, people pay 62 cents of tax per pack in Tennessee. The higher price and short drive are worth it to some Kentucky smokers. "Minute and a half and 50 cents, so they don't care," explained Dave Fox, a cashier at an Exxon station in the border town of Jellico, Tennessee. He estimated cigarette sales have jumped 40 percent since Kentucky switched to fire safe Cigarettes. That's the opposite of what happened when Tennessee raised the cigarette tax. "It's completely reversed," said Fox. "It should get back exactly the way it was, because nobody likes it at all." Customers at Butch's weigh their options. "I'm a pretty loyal customer to Vic," said Katie West. " I'll probably still buy my Cigarettes in Kentucky." Josh Hubbard has another idea. "Quit. Yeah, probably. Hopefully," Hubbard said. "I know a lot of people who are talking about quitting." Kentucky is one of nine states selling only fire-safe Cigarettes. Eighteen other states have passed fire-safe cigarette laws that will soon take effect.