Smokers: Notice anything different?
23
July
7/23/2008:
Cigarette smokers may only represent 10-15% of the Hoboken population, but several folks I know have mentioned a bizarre change in the cigarettes they smoke.
“They’ve done something to them! They constantly burn out. What’s the deal?”
For those that smoke, take a look at your pack of cigarettes. It should have an “FSC” marking near the UPC symbol. That stands for “Fire Standards Compliant,” and means there is an added kind of “banded” paper which is designed to burn out if left unattended.
New York has had this kind of cigarette since 2004, but effective June 1, 2008 New Jersey made this a mandatory “feature” of the cigarettes.
What is banded paper?
The banded paper currently used by PM USA has areas of ultra-thin paper or other permeability reducing material that are applied on top of traditional cigarette paper during the papermaking process. The banded paper technology being used by cigarette manufacturers is referred to as “print banded paper,” which uses printing technology to apply the bands. Both types of band technology are designed so that the bands act as “speed bumps” to slow down the rate at which the cigarette burns as the lit end crosses over them. Cigarettes made with this technology may be more likely to extinguish on their own, for example, when resting in an ashtray.
To read more about it, take a look at this document “Reduced Cigarette Ignition Propensity” issued by Philip Morris.
Of course, one person I know thinks this isn’t for Fire Safety, but rather a “CONSPIRACY” designed to make the cigarette burn longer and cause current smokers to inhale MORE smoke and nicotine!!
Any “smoking” Hoboken411 readers notice it?
Hoboken, FSC Cigarettes, Fire Standards Compliant, Cigarettes, Smoking
1. esw7178 | July 23rd, 2008 at 12:32 pm
Not much going on in Hoboken today huh?
2. hoboken411 | July 23rd, 2008 at 12:50 pm
Apparently not. Oh well.
3. Katie_Scarlett | July 23rd, 2008 at 12:55 pm
This is great if you live in an apt building because it protects you from Stupid.
But if you live in your own dwelling, this sucks. When I smoked, I refused to buy NYC cigarettes because of this paper.
Smoking will most likely end up killing you - dying a fiery death b/c you were too stupid to put it out will just hurry that end result along!
4. MidnightRacer | July 23rd, 2008 at 1:06 pm
This is good news for singles guys. Just think, you get to offer a light at a bar more than once. Crash and burn? No problem, she needs another light. Here’s your chance tiger. Go for it.
5. ShhhDontTell | July 23rd, 2008 at 1:08 pm
Too bad this feature wasn’t in place before 1203 burned up.
6. winesnob | July 23rd, 2008 at 1:25 pm
smoking is for butt heads
7. andynnj | July 23rd, 2008 at 1:27 pm
I quit 6 years ago and the guys above me quit for 4 then started back. The problem is they think cigarette butts can go anywhere they want - including my flower pots - and they smoke in the common area. Besides them being inconsiderate, I am a little worried they are going to start a fire.
8. onaheartbeatglide | July 23rd, 2008 at 2:51 pm
I’m pretty sure New York got on this bandwagon at least 4 years ago, no? I assumed everyone else had to as well.
9. bradykp | July 23rd, 2008 at 3:03 pm
andynnj wrote:
i know this is a sweeping generalization, but it seems to be proven to my sight time and time again…smokers think littering laws do not apply to them. they’ll rip the cellophane of the pack and just toss it anywhere. then, they take a cigarette out, and if we’re unfortunate enough for them to not have a lighter and use a match, they’ll also toss it anywhere. then finally, the cigarette butt of course, also gets tossed anywhere. on top of all that, many can’t even manage to throw the pack into the garbage cans.
extra points for people that smoke heavily though….i rarely see a carton box lying in the street…so they must throw those away.
sorry, i know this doesn’t apply yo all you smokers, but i see it quite enough that I think it’s fair to say.
also, throwing your cigarette off the curb isn’t any better “because the street cleaner can get it there”. it’s still littering, and going into the sewers, and clogging up the sewers.
10. Biffy B For Mayor | July 23rd, 2008 at 4:44 pm
this is perfect…i can now light up after sex, take a few puffs, put my cigarette down, get freaky again and still have a half of cigarette left 7 mins later.
Thank you Marlboro Man!!!!
11. MidnightRacer | July 23rd, 2008 at 4:53 pm
bradykp wrote:
you think that’s bad… how about the smokers who put (out) there cigarettes into people’s flower boxes.
12. dont-cha-know | July 23rd, 2008 at 6:19 pm
Why do they have to put the bands on to begin with? Doesn’t untreated tobacco naturally stop burning on its own? I thought manufactured cigarettes were treated with glycerine or something to make them burn faster so you would go through more of them. Considering the cost of cigarettes these days, I would think smokers would prefer these slower burning models.
13. bradykp | July 23rd, 2008 at 7:11 pm
MidnightRacer wrote:
ignorant asses! see MR, we agree on some things
14. MidnightRacer | July 23rd, 2008 at 9:37 pm
Hope you didn’t think otherwise.
There’s good intentions, and then there are policy issues. Neither are tied to the other.
If you’re not used to it already, I’m the kind of person who believes discourse and dissent are twins separated at birth - and now have a lot of catching up to do.
And I don’t really care about if people want to smoke cigarettes (cancer sticks) - as long as they don’t injure me, or destroy my property. In Texas, we lived on 10 acres by the lake with a bunch of German Shepherds. One day we went out to Austin, and while gone, someone had thrown a cigarette out of their car, onto our property, which burned half the land and almost killed our dogs (who were saved by the fire department from 3 counties). Hey, people can smoke, just don’t injure me or others (second hand cancer).
It’s all in the details, brady, not ill will.