CVS Stops Selling Tobacco Products at All Locations

By Kara Seymour

As of Wednesday, CVS will no longer sell tobacco products.

All of the pharmacy chain’s 7,700 locations are now tobacco free, a move the company says they hope will promote health and prevent disease. CVS first announced in February it would be removing cigarettes and tobacco products from its shelves.

“While the prevalence of cigarette smoking has decreased from approximately 42 percent of adults in 1965 to 18 percent today, the rate of reduction in smoking prevalence has stalled in the past decade. More interventions, such as reducing the availability of cigarettes, are needed,” CVS said in a statement.

The move to take tobacco products off the shelves will cost the company about $2 billion in annual sales, Forbes reported.

“The removal of cigarette and other tobacco products from our stores is an important step in helping Americans to quit smoking and get healthy,” said Helena B. Foulkes, company president.

By the end of 2014, CVS plans to introduce a “robust” smoking cessation program and an enhanced selection of nicotine replacement products.