This past January marked 50 years since the Surgeon General published that landmark report that stated that smoking cigarettes were hazardous to health. Through the years advertisers and marketers fought the tough battle to encourage people to stop smoking. We’ve seen warnings added to packaging and bans restricting advertising as early as 1967.
Today another step was made in the fight against smoking as the second largest U.S. drugstore chain, CVS, announced that they would stop selling tobacco products in their 7,600 stores. Though this decision to focus more on the health of their consumers could cost them billions I personally feel this was a great decision made by the largest U.S. pharmacy healthcare provider. I think what CVS may lose in cigarette sales they will earn back in respect from consumers that do not purchase tobacco products. They are not the first to give up the habit. Retailers like Target and Wegmans stopped selling cigarettes years ago. I bet most people now don’t even realized they ever sold them to begin with.
I’ve been asked, “Is there any brand/product/client you would not work for?” Hands down I would not work with or for any tobacco or cigarette company. When I was 14 I lost my grandmother after a long battle with emphysema, cause by 50+ years of smoking. She and I were very close and it was incredibly painful to see her suffer with such a horrible condition that could have been prevented.
Though many will argue that smokers will just go to other retailers to get their fix but Dr. Richard Wender of the American Cancer Society said, “Every time we make it more difficult to purchase a pack of cigarettes, someone quits.”
I commend CVS’s decision in hopes that they can help prevent someone from suffering like my grandma and me.
Marissa Osowsky 