Does This Sound Like Prohibition?

Loveabull · Post by **Loveabull** » 06 Feb 2014, 08:38

For those of you not in the US, Caremark corporation, a major pharmacy chain, has announced that they will phase out selling tobacco products by October. Supposedly they've figured in how much revenue they will lose but still see it as a positive step. I quit smoking some years ago and now I think the smell is kind of nasty. But something about banning tobacco altogether bothers me.

I usedta work for a pharmacy where they promoted candy. The candy company rewarded the pharmacy company based on candy sales. As an employee you were expected to ask each customer if they wanted some. Then they had a promotion "Buy candy for the troops". Wrong in so many ways. Rah, rah, USA, They put a big box at the front counter with the idea you were being patriotic buying candy on the assumption it would get sent directly to Iraq. I think that box of candy ended up in the dumpster eventually anyway.

I walked out on that job one night when I found out the district manager was texting the store manager every half hour to see how much candy I was selling...or refusing to sell. It's unethical for a pharmacy to push candy...When you work at a neighborhood store you learn to identify the morbidly obese, diabetics, people with bad teeth, people with eating disorders, even very young children...all people who don't want or shouldn't have candy.

Okay so CVS thinks being all righteous is going to make up for all that lost revenue not selling smokes. I think it's like prohibition...Alcohol isn't healthy either but they realized outlawing THAT wasn't going to work. Great, it will get to where if you're in the city those dealers cruising around whispering "Smoke, smoke?", won't be selling weed, it'll be Marlboro...

TrishaAnn92 · Post by **TrishaAnn92** » 06 Feb 2014, 17:09

I agree with you completely loveabull! With all the electronic smokes coming out that are supposedly just as bad for you are making an appearance I believe a lot of corporations like CVS will follow behind CVS and take the hit. I don't necessarily agree with them taking cigarettes off the shelf, reason being, they are taking the customers that do my cigarettes there, choice away. Will it backfire on them? I think in time it will.

Loveabull · Post by **Loveabull** » 06 Feb 2014, 22:22

Yeah and I mean smoking is a nasty, deadly habit...but I think like alcohol or buying lottery tickets, hey it's a choice. I know some people have a need, especially people in recovery from other bad habits. Smoking is a very big need for some of them...that's just the way it is. I dunno, like I said it's like prohibition...it's going to backfire on them somehow.

TrishaAnn92 · Post by **TrishaAnn92** » 06 Feb 2014, 22:34

Definitely. My husband was a smoker and still does occasionally when he is stressed. They are taking that choice from its customers. I'm mot sure big of an impact it will be because I know a lot of people shop there for various items but in the areas where they sell a lot of cigarettes it will be a huge loss. And some of the stores all more than likely close down. Making room for the smaller less common pharmacies to step in and take over. In my opinion atleast.

Aussie-reader · Post by **Aussie-reader** » 06 Feb 2014, 22:52

A pharmacy chain sells tobacco products?????

Does pharmacy have the same meaning in USA as it does in Australia?

Because this would be unheard of in Australia - no pharmacies sell tobacco products and there would be uproar if any attempted to.

cigarettes here can be bought from supermarkets or corner stores, must be behind counter in plain packaging and you must be over 18 to buy them.
Also no cigarette advertising or display of products is allowed at all.

I have no problem with this, it is not taking away choice from adults but is not promoting them either.

I don't see it the same as alcohol or gambling. These are only available to adults in Australia as well but they may be advertised and may be displayed in shop.
But alcohol and gambling are not bad for your health in moderation.
Smoking is - there is no healthy moderation level.

TrishaAnn92 · Post by **TrishaAnn92** » 06 Feb 2014, 23:39

Aussie-reader, I believe the USA should follow that route and have all pharmacies remove them. But unfortunately the majority (not all, there are those of us with common sense) of the American populace would go bizzerk and call it oppression or say that this is one more thing the government is trying to control. ( not that they don't like control but I won't step foot on that territory. Haha)

Any ways no cigarettes in pharmacies would be good. I won't say anything about the alcohol as I do drink occasionally and according to my Dr. One beer every once in a while is good for you.

Fran · Post by **Fran** » 07 Feb 2014, 06:27

Do US pharmacies really sell cigs?

Even way back before the uproar about the health implications of cigs. they were never, ever sold in pharmacies in Ireland or anywhere else in Europe I'd wager.

TrishaAnn92 · Post by **TrishaAnn92** » 07 Feb 2014, 08:08

Yeah its very common everywhere you can buy whatever you can buy cigarettes. I'm glad they are taking them out. I hope others follow and do as well. It'll cause an uproar though.

Ella · Post by **Ella** » 07 Feb 2014, 08:28

I'm usually all for live and let live. You live your life as you see fit, as long as it isn't affecting me (or my kid). But I am totally behind CVS on this. Nothing positive at all has ever come from cigarettes. And the second hand smoke can be worse. I wonder how much money CVS really makes off of them. Nothing is cheap there. Actually, when I think CVS, I hardly think of it as a pharmacy anymore...sure, they still sell prescriptions, but you can do a lot of your general shopping there.

My real question is...how can anyone even afford to smoke anymore??

kbrooks94 · Post by **kbrooks94** » 07 Feb 2014, 11:39

My opinion would be that CVS has the right not to sell tobacco, or anything else they choose. They are a business in a free enterprise. For non-American readers, our pharmacies are a little different than those in the UK, Australia and Mexico, etc. They are combination stores, where you can purchase convenience items, as well as pick up prescription medicines. Personally, if cigarette manufacturers stop creating their products, I would not miss them, but people still do want the right to smoke. I believe that new non-smoking laws and segregated areas designated for smoking are improvements have improved things for the rest of us, but it will not be another Prohibition until the government completely outlaws cigarettes.

Fran · Post by **Fran** » 07 Feb 2014, 15:53

Just read on another site that Leonard Nimoy (Mr Spock) has been diagnosed with chronic lung disease - he gave up smoking 30 years ago - yet another victim of the noxious weed.
I salute Caremark corporation for their action but the cynic in me is suspicious of their reasons - somehow I doubt they are entirely altruistic.

Loveabull · Post by **Loveabull** » 07 Feb 2014, 16:29

I kind of was thinking that too, there must be more to it than they just decided to ban smokes. Warren Zevon was a singer, the same thing...he quit for ten years and died from lung cancer. It's just as a former smoker I understand the need and feel it should be a choice. I haven't smoked in a long time but still have dreams where I'm smoking.

Aussie-reader · Post by **Aussie-reader** » 07 Feb 2014, 21:57

It's just as a former smoker I understand the need and feel it should be a choice.

Sure, it should be a choice - but it still will be.
Smokers will just have to buy them at other places -Like they do in Australia and other countries
No-one is banning them from being available at all ,are they?

On the issue of choice, store owners, corporation owners, also have the choice whether to stock certain products - so this corporation is choosing not to stock tobacco.

Actualy I am not sure if it is illegal for pharmacies to sell cigarettes in Australia - but none do - and the population would be outraged if any decided to.
A pharmacy is a place promoting health products - not just prescription meds - in Australia they sell things like perfume, over the counter medications, gift lines, lollies, weight loss products, toiletries, health related products like blood sugar machines, thermometers, bandages etc.
There would be such a backlash if any started selling cigarettes - Would be an extremely poor business decision to do so.

TrishaAnn92 · Post by **TrishaAnn92** » 08 Feb 2014, 01:37

Not yet at least. I wouldn't be surprised if they tried. I stand behind the right to choose to smoke, I have never been able to smoke as I am allergic to the carp they put in them but everybody else deserves the right to choose. I do applaud CVS for what they are doing.

Fran · Post by **Fran** » 08 Feb 2014, 09:22

I'm all for the right to choose but non-smokers have rights too including the right not to be forced to breath second-hand smoke. I'm a huge fan of Man Men & it amazes me to see the amount of smoking (and drinking) that went on in the period the series covers. Smoking has become quite an anti-social habit in Ireland in recent years but unfortunately you still see teenage girls smoking because they think it keeps them from putting on weight - they really should consider how thin people with lung cancer or emphysema get! I detest smokers breath & really would find it revolting to kiss a smoker, if fact I think I would probably be sick.