Letter to the Editor: First NY County to Ban Sale of Tobacco Products at Pharmacies

Dear Editor:

Re: “Rockland Becomes First NY County to Ban Sale of Tobacco Products at Pharmacies” (Pearl River Patch, February 4th, 2017) I applaud the Rockland County Legislature’s decision to prohibit the sale tobacco products in their pharmacies, making Rockland the very first County in New York State to do so. This new law will help prevent youth smoking initiation and help current smokers quit.

Leading the way, Denise Hogan, the Reality Check youth of Rockland County and a variety of community supporters have helped to limit the tobacco companies exposure in the retail environment. After years of educating the community at large and elected officials, garnering support and mobilizing a variety of entities within the county to voice their support at public hearings, it is amazing to see our democratic process at work.

Prohibiting tobacco sales in pharmacies is an important step in reducing the number of tobacco retailers in Rockland and helping to de-normalize tobacco use. Tobacco products kill 50% of the people who use them and do not belong in health institutions. Rockland County has 215 tobacco retailers. Of those retailers 11 pharmacies sell tobacco, 2 are privately owned, 7 are big box, (5 Walgreens, 3 Rite Aid, and 1 Drug Mart).

There are also 8 super markets that have pharmacies that sell tobacco (4 Shop rite-4 Stop & Shop).

Eliminating 19 tobacco retailers will reduce the tobacco retail Density by 10%. This reduction will protect our youth from tobacco marketing as well as help smokers quit. By eliminating 19 tobacco retailers the county will have 196 tobacco retailers for the 9% of residents who smoke in the county.

I echo Executive Day’s comment and stand in agreement, “pharmacies should be helping people quit smoking and not encouraging people to start or continue the deadly addiction.This is a good step forward in reducing the availability of dangerous tobacco products to Rockland County residents and visitors including young people.”

Makeda James
POW’R Against Tobacco
Reality Check Manager
White Plains, N.Y.