CVS Drug Stores Stop Selling Tobacco Products Early

Back in February, nationwide pharmacy CVS announced plans to stop selling cigarettes and other tobacco products by October 1, 2014. The chain has managed to beat its October deadline by nearly a month and, as of now, CVS stores are tobacco-free.

In a video on the CVS website, President and CEO Larry Merlo previously announced that CVS is “the first national pharmacy chain to step up and take this action…Tobacco products have no place in a setting where health care is delivered.”

In a more recent statement, president of CVS/pharmacy Helena B. Foulkes says:

“Every day, all across the country, customers and patients place their trust in our 26,000 pharmacists and nurse practitioners to serve their health care needs. The removal of cigarette and other tobacco products from our stores is an important step in helping Americans to quit smoking and get healthy.”

Along with ceasing to sell tobacco products, the company also announced that they will be changing their name from CVS Caremark to CVS Health.