We Don’t Sell Cigarettes Anymore - Followup

May 12, 2008
 

In February I wrote a blog about Wegmans grocery stores deciding not to sell tobacco products anymore. (View article) Last week there was a front page article in USA Today about pharmacies "putting out their smokes".According to Wendy Koch of USA Today the San Francisco Board of Supervisors will approve a ban on city pharmacies from selling tobacco products, taking effect on October 1, 2008.  Ah, but you say this is San Francisco - one would expect nothing less from them.

According to USA Today similar Bills are pending in New Hampshire, Illinois and Tennessee with pharmacies that have walk-in clinics.  A Bill in New York would apply to all pharmacies, including industry giant WalMart. According to the article Wegmans was not the only grocer to remove tobacco product in February. New York- based chains Budwey's and DeCicco Family Markets followed suit. Some ShopRite stores joined the bandwagon in March.

In the February blog piece I asked if this trend was going to catch on.  I have my answer.

Curtis Baillie, Principal Consultant - Security Consulting Strategies, LLC