With everyone trying to rid the tobacco habit, it’s a surprise that many pharmacies are still carrying tobacco products. However, in recent news the CVS pharmacy chain announced that it plans to stop selling tobacco products by October 1.
From reports earlier this week, the nation’s second largest drugstore chain said that it will phase out cigarettes, cigars and chewing tobacco by October 1. The move will cost about $2 billion in annual revenue but won’t affect its 2014 earnings forecast.
[blockquote cite=”CVS Caremark leaders” float=”left” align=”left”]Removing tobacco will help grow the company’s business of working with doctors, hospitals and other care providers to improve customers’ health.[/blockquote]
For several years now pharmacists have been delivering flu shots and other immunizations from the clinics inside the drugstore. CVS have also been expanding the care they deliver by now helping people manage chronic illnesses, like high blood pressure and diabetes.
[blockquote cite=”CEO Larry Merlo” float=”left” align=”left”]We’ve come to the conclusion that cigarettes have no place in a setting where health care is being delivered.[/blockquote]
The company declined to say what will take tobacco’s prominent shelf place behind cash registers at the front of its stores. CVS Caremark will test some items and may expand smoking cessation products that are already sold near cigarettes.
For vapers, this move raises a brow and will have many wondering what it’ll mean for electronic cigarettes. Since the FDA has labeled electronic cigarettes as a tobacco product, does this mean they’ll discontinue selling electronic cigarettes as well?
