CVS to become first major U.S. drugstore to drop cigarettes

[Eugene]

Source: Reuters

CVS to become first major U.S. drugstore to drop cigarettes

BY PHIL WAHBA AND JULIE STEENHUYSEN
Wed Feb 5, 2014 7:08am EST

(Reuters) - CVS Caremark Corp said on Wednesday that it would stop selling tobacco products at its 7,600 stores by October, becoming the first U.S. drugstore chain to take cigarettes off the shelf.

Public health experts called the decision by the No. 2 U.S. drugstore chain a precedent-setting step that could pressure other stores to follow suit.

CVS, whose Caremark unit is a major pharmacy benefits manager for corporations and the government Medicare program, believes the decision will strengthen its position as a healthcare provider.

[font size=1]-snip-[/font]

Although some U.S. cities, including Boston and San Francisco, already ban the sale of tobacco products in pharmacies, advocates hope CVS' voluntary decision will have a ripple effect among other pharmacy chains.

[font size=1]-snip-[/font]

Read more: http://www.reuters.com/article/2014/02/05/us-cvscaremark-cigarettes-idUSBREA140RP20140205

[RKP5637]

1. Excellent! This IMO is one of those things definitly for the positive. I am always

stunned to see people persist in smoking when the results are so evident.

What always gets to me are the youth that reek of cigarettes. Healthy looking young kids eventually destroying their lives.

This probably won't make a chain smoker stop, but just maybe it might cause a youngster to think twice and others. As one of my friends use to say, "out of sight, out of mind!"

I'm no prude and I believe in live and let live, but some things in life are obviously so damn destructive and any help helps IMO.

[pipoman]

3. It won't effect anything

Few people, other than old people who are always at the pharmacy already, or people buying liquor (equally destructive product sold at drug stores) go to the drug store for cigarettes.

[RKP5637]

5. Yep, you touched on the flip side! Maybe sales are so low they simply decided not to stock them! n/t

[Glitterati]

2. Ho hum....

Target hasn't sold cigarettes in forever. No one seems to give a shit.

This is nothing more than CVS dumping a poor sales product and putting out a press release so they can get some positive press for it.

And, all of DU falls for it.

[Arcanetrance]

4. I'm not sure it'll make that big of a difference

There are so many other places to buy cigarettes at and drugstores in general are far down the list of those places for most.

[roody]

6. Good. I'll make it a point to shop there.