The country's second-largest drugstore, CVS Caremark, just announced that it would stop selling tobacco products by October 1st of this year. The company's president and CEO, Larry Merlo, said, "Ending the sale of cigarettes and tobacco products at CVS/pharmacy is the right thing for us to do for our customers and our company to help people on their path to better health. Put simply, the sale of tobacco products is inconsistent with our purpose."
There are more than 7,600 CVS/Caremark pharmacies in the U.S., and it notes it will be the "first national pharmacy chain to take this step in support of the health and well-being of its patients and customers." Merlo added, "As the delivery of health care evolves with an emphasis on better health outcomes, reducing chronic disease and controlling costs, CVS Caremark is playing an expanded role in providing care through our pharmacists and nurse practitioners. The significant action we're taking today by removing tobacco products from our retail shelves further distinguishes us in how we are serving our patients, clients and health care providers and better positions us for continued growth in the evolving health care marketplace."
According to the Centers for Disease Control, "Cigarette smoking is the leading cause of preventable death in the United States, accounting for more than 440,000 deaths, or one of every five deaths, in the United States each year." (CVS puts the number at 480,000.) Also: "Tobacco smoke contains a deadly mix of more than 7,000 chemicals; hundreds are toxic, and about 70 can cause cancer. Tobacco smoke can cause serious health problems, numerous diseases, and death."
CVS will start the program in this spring, and will have information about quitting smoking at its stores.
President Barack Obama, who claims he quit smoking, said today, "I applaud this morning’s news that CVS Caremark has decided to stop selling cigarettes and other tobacco products in its stores, and begin a national campaign to help millions of Americans quit smoking instead. As one of the largest retailers and pharmacies in America, CVS Caremark sets a powerful example, and today’s decision will help advance my Administration’s efforts to reduce tobacco-related deaths, cancer, and heart disease, as well as bring down health care costs - ultimately saving lives and protecting untold numbers of families from pain and heartbreak for years to come. I congratulate - and thank - the CEO of CVS Caremark, Larry Merlo, the board of directors, and all who helped make a choice that will have a profoundly positive impact on the health of our country."
CVS Caremark also says, "The company estimates that it will lose approximately $2 billion in revenues on an annual basis from the tobacco shopper... The company has identified incremental opportunities that are expected to offset the profitability impact. This decision more closely aligns the company with its patients, clients and health care providers to improve health outcomes while controlling costs and positions the company for continued growth."
Only 4% of all retail cigarette sales come from CVS and the number-one drugstore chain, Walgreens. Total U.S. cigarettes sales in 2012 came in at $107.7 billion.
Update: Former mayor Michael Bloomberg, whose crusade against smoking included banning it in bars and graphic anti-smoking ads, weighed in (he loves it):
"CVS's decision to eliminate tobacco sales is a major milestone in the effort to reduce tobacco use - and it sets a new bar for all companies that market themselves as pharmacies and health care centers. Just as no responsible doctor would put a cigarette machine in the office lobby, no responsible pharmacy should put cigarettes behind the counter. Pharmacies should help heal people, not make them sick. This is a smart and forward-looking move that will help save lives - and force other companies to confront this critically important public health issue.
