State AGs Urge Drug Stores to Halt Tobacco Sales

New York and Ohio AGs lead effort to ask Walmart, Walgreens, Rite-Aid, Safeway and Kroger to follow CVS’s lead.

March 18, 2014

NEW YORK – Attorney General Eric Schneiderman joined Ohio Attorney General Mike DeWine in leading an effort to persuade large drug-store chains to stop selling tobacco products.

AGs from 28 states and territories have joined the effort by writing to the CEOs of Walmart, Walgreens (which also operates Duane Reade stores), Rite-Aid, Safeway and Kroger, asking them to remove all tobacco products from store shelves. In addition, 32 AGs have commended CVS for its recent decision to stop selling tobacco in its stores.

“Pharmacies and drug stores, which increasingly market themselves as a source for community health care, send a mixed message by continuing to sell deadly tobacco products,” said Attorney General Schneiderman. “The fact that these stores profit from the sale of cigarettes and tobacco must take a backseat to the health of New Yorkers and customers across the country. I urge these companies to do the right thing and remove tobacco products from store shelves.”

“My fellow Attorneys General and I are asking these national retailers to take an additional step forward in keeping tobacco products away from youth by voluntarily not selling them in their stores with pharmacies,” Attorney General DeWine said. “The health of our kids is just too important.”

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