BMJ 2014;348:g1442 doi: 10.1136/bmj.g1442 (Published 12 February 2014)

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NEWS Major US pharmacy chain plans to stop selling cigarettes Michael McCarthy Seattle

CVS Caremark, the second largest pharmacy chain in the United States, announced on 5 February that it would stop selling cigarettes and tobacco products in all of its stores by 1 October. It is the first national pharmacy chain in the US to take such a step. The decision comes at a time when many US pharmacies are moving to provide more healthcare services, including in-store clinics, often in collaboration with local hospitals and medical groups.

In a statement Larry J Merlo, the company’s president and chief executive officer, said that the decision was “the right thing to do.” “By removing tobacco products from our retail shelves, we will better serve our patients, clients and healthcare providers while positioning CVS Caremark for future growth as a healthcare company. Cigarettes and tobacco products have no place in a setting where healthcare is delivered,” Merlo said.

The company, which has 7600 stores nationwide, estimated that the decision would cost it $2bn (£1.2bn; €1.5bn) a year in sales. The company’s annual revenues exceeded $123bn in 2012. President Barack Obama issued a statement praising the company’s decision, saying, “As one of the largest retailers and pharmacies in America, CVS Caremark sets a powerful example, and today’s decision will help advance my administration’s efforts to reduce tobacco related deaths, cancer, and heart disease, as well as bring down healthcare costs—ultimately

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saving lives and protecting untold numbers of families from pain and heartbreak for years to come.”

A recent report issued by the US surgeon general, marking the 50th anniversary of the landmark 1964 surgeon general report that identified smoking at a leading cause of cancer and heart disease, noted that despite a major decline in tobacco use in the US, 42 million (18%) of its citizens continued to smoke and 480 000 died of smoking related conditions each year.1

The CVS decision will put pressure on other drug store chains to follow suit. In a statement a spokeswoman for a major competitor, Rite Aid, said that in addition to selling tobacco products the company “sells a variety of smoking cessation products and provides additional resources, including our pharmacists, who are available to counsel people trying to stop smoking. We continually evaluate our product offering to ensure that it meets the needs and interests of our customers.” bmj.com Observations: It is time to plan the tobacco endgame (BMJ 2014;348:g1453, doi:10.1136/bmj.g1453); Letter: Smoking prevalence in England is below 20% for the first time in 80 years (BMJ 2014;348:g1378, doi:10.1136/bmj.g1378) 1

US Department of Health and Human Services. The health consequences of smoking—50 years of progress: a report of the surgeon general. 2014. www.surgeongeneral.gov/library/ reports/50-years-of-progress/#fullreport.

Cite this as: BMJ 2014;348:g1442 © BMJ Publishing Group Ltd 2014

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Major US pharmacy chain plans to stop selling cigarettes.

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