New State Law Might have Smokers Smoldering

A new law has some cigarette smokers burning up.

A state law went into effect yesterday that requires retailers to purchase cigarettes that might go out while you're smoking.

Customers can buy just about anything at Young's Tobacco shop, but it's one small thing that's burning up some.

"The cigarette sold to the retailer has to be under fire safety compliance code, which means it's burn free, or slow burning paper," says Kenneth Young, the owner of Young's Tobacco.

Kenneth Young says the slower burning paper has made some smokers smolder. They believe the new cigarettes, the ones that are fire safety compliant, have left them with a bad taste.

"No taste difference, it may be bad for some customers that are slow smokers and it goes out while it's in their hand," says Young.

Sharon Gambrell's been smoking since she was 15, for her the change almost went unnoticed.

"That's a trip. As a matter of a fact, the last pack I bought I noticed when I was talking to my neighbor, I had to re-light my cigarette twice," says Gambrell.

"They don't look any different, just the same. But I've had customers come in and buy a pack and say, oh good it's not on this one," says Young.

The new cigarettes have several small bands inside the paper surrounding the tobacco. They act like speed bumps, slowing down the burning action of the cigarette.

"It surprises me a lot because that's not taking any of the danger of away from us, i mean maybe if throw out the cigarette out of the car window it won't burn the woods down of set the bed on fire," says Gambrell.

"It's probably for the best, because if smoking and go to sleep, it'll go out if it drops," says Young.

So, no matter if you're buying a pack, or a carton, the new law will affect your cigarettes.

Retailers will have till the end of 2009 to clear out their merchandise that does not meet the new state standard.

More than a dozen states have already adopted a guideline similar to Texas.