Larry Merlo, President of CVS Pharmacy

[graciegirl]

Is a brave and conscientious man. He will lose billions on his decision to not sell tobacco and tobacco products.

His reason?" It is contrary to our purpose."

He is my hero of the day.

[Bavarian]

They are legal. The Governments are making a fortune in tobacco taxes. When smoking is lessened, who is going to make up the losses?

[karostay]

Would be great if all retail stores in the villages stop selling Tobacco products just think how nice the Town squares and outdoor restaurants would smell.

[graciegirl]

They are legal. The Governments are making a fortune in tobacco taxes. When smoking is lessened, who is going to make up the losses?



You are right. They are legal. And a lot of taxes are made on the sales.
But they are deadly. In the past three years we have attended so many funerals of people we love who died of smoking induced illness.


I still love my friends who smoke, they can't stop.I smoked. It was so hard to stop. I still feel the effects and it still may well kill me and other people who I love.


I don't smoke and stopped drinking. I live to aggravate people in other ways.;)

[rubicon]

CVS is doing the right thing. I have had four friends who retired after me and they all died before the age of 65. all of them smoked


My sister smoked. she was fortunate that the doctors decided to do a chest x ray. they discovered a nodule on her lung. they removed it and she needed to do noting more. God have given her a second chance I was living away and when I came home for a visit found she returned to smoking. I went up one side of her and down the other. she blinked then deflated. Her cancer is back first her lungs and now on the brain. she also has COPD. I call her often, I weep silently and I bite my tongue.

Now we have greedy politicians and dopers telling us marijuana is a good thing. god help us all

[billethkid]

I don't think the outdoors is anymore affected by the smell of "smoking" than it is from the smells coming from all our vehicles which we all know will kill us.....but does't seem to matter or smell....I guess.

Now how can that be?

[Bavarian]

Does CVS sell Pot in their CO and WA State stores?
Will they stop selling sugary drinks like soda?
I have never smoked, but who am I to tell others not to smoke, better than drinking or Pot.

[Monkei]

I don't think I have any right to ask people to stop smoking and I surely have no right to criticize CVS for their actions. People know they should not smoke and I know I should stop cheating on my diabetic diet and lose some weight. I think this is just a case of a man in power who made a decision. The smokers will simply get their smokes from other retailers.

[graciegirl]

I don't think I have any right to ask people to stop smoking and I surely have no right to criticize CVS for their actions. People know they should not smoke and I know I should stop cheating on my diabetic diet and lose some weight. I think this is just a case of a man in power who made a decision. The smokers will simply get their smokes from other retailers.


I agree. Well said.

[shcisamax]

Frankly i think it was very brave of them to dump cigarettes which are contrary to selling things that are for people's well being. It is like investment firms selling bad stock on the retail side but shorting it on their side. A business that is in the business of health should truly be committed to health. Bravo.
As for taking a hit on their stock which has already happened, I think in the long term, they will build brand loyalty for their decision of integrity.

As for the other drug chains, well ...that remains to be seen. I would hope they would follow suit. I don't feel sorry for the tobacco companies in the least. Besides, they will soon be making far more selling pot.

[Shimpy]

Would be great if all retail stores in the villages stop selling Tobacco products just think how nice the Town squares and outdoor restaurants would smell.

Wouldn't be any different. Those hooked on tobacco will buy it outside TV.

[TrudyM]

Does CVS sell Pot in their CO and WA State stores?
Will they stop selling sugary drinks like soda?
I have never smoked, but who am I to tell others not to smoke, better than drinking or Pot.

I don't think they do. I am from Washington state. You need a special licence to sell and it is not sold at regular pharmacies. Also as it is still illegal federally they are not getting involved.

[tommy steam]

I understand Walgreens is considering not selling cigarettes.

[Abby10]

Is a brave and conscientious man. He will lose billions on his decision to not sell tobacco and tobacco products.

His reason?" It is contrary to our purpose."

He is my hero of the day.

Gracie, what you say is true. I went to pharmacy school with Larry and he was part of my circle of friends. Although we haven't kept in touch over the years, he is as you say a brave and conscientious man. He is also very intelligent and devoted to his profession. IMHO, CVS is fortunate to have him leading their organization. As a fellow pharmacist, I feel that he made the right decision. Most independent pharmacies that I have worked for over the years got out of the cigarette selling business years ago (shortly after the surgeon general's warning was put into place). The one I currently work at does not sell candy or soda either. To me, the cigarettes especially are a conflict of interest for a healthcare organization to be in the business of selling and/or promoting. There are many places where they can be bought outside of a pharmacy. I say "kudos" to Larry. I think CVS will not be hurt in the long run over this move. BTW, I also have family members and close friends who are cigarette smokers so no judgment here. I understand how truly difficult it is to break that habit even if one wants to, but it is so heartbreaking to see the long term effects.

[Villages PL]

Is a brave and conscientious man. He will lose billions on his decision to not sell tobacco and tobacco products.

His reason?" It is contrary to our purpose."

He is my hero of the day.

As long as smokers can easily get cigarettes across the street from CVS, in most locations, the decision to stop selling cigarettes is largely symbolic. They are going for the "halo" effect. It says: Look as us, we have a conscience. We care about your health more than we care about making money. The hope is that they will make up for it by selling more drugs!

Walgreens will most likely follow suit, eventually, but most convenience stores and supermarkets will not. So what have we gained, really?

Phamacies that are truly interested in preventing disease should also stop selling candy and other such junk food items. But where would they be, financially, if they did that? What if people got the message and began living healthier lifestyles? Bye bye drug industry!

Look at Publix and Winn Dixie: Many of their stores are within walking distance from CVS. They have pharmacies and at the same time they sell cigarettes, lots of candy and (processed) junk foods. Are they going to stop selling cigarettes too and claim that they are suddenly interested in promoting health?

[keithwand]

What's next? Beer, wine, chewing gum, greeting cards...
None of my family or friends smoke but I don't need CVS dictating their own moral codes on the public.
Bet they"ll sell pot if its legalized and no I don't do that either.

[travelguy]

Hats off to CVS for having the guts to eliminate the sales of tobacco products in their stores. I would love to see a major supermarket chain also rise to the occasion. As a former smoker I do remember quitting, over 35 years ago. If you want to quit it really is not all that difficult. In fact, it is easy.......but you have to really want to not smoke anymore.

[blueash]

CVS drops tobacco in health play; Walgreen burns - chicagotribune.com (http://www.chicagotribune.com/business/columnists/ct-cvs-cigarettes-rosenthal-0206-biz-20140206,0,7962888.column)

While I applaud the decision, this column with quotes from Merlo who clearly states that this was a business decision that he does not believe will hurt his company and will in fact increase the income. He is trying to position CVS to be a competitor to a doctor's office and offer primary care using non doctors. Tobacco sale is about 1% of CVS's sales.

[buggyone]

[quote=keithwand;825039]What's next? Beer, wine, chewing gum, greeting cards...
None of my family or friends smoke but I don't need CVS dictating their own moral codes on the public.[/

Some other stores I include in the ones that dictate their morals on the public and their employees are Hobby Lobby and Chik-Fil-A.

It is up to the public whether to use the store or not on an individual basis - or even to boycott as a group.

[JP]

What's next? Beer, wine, chewing gum, greeting cards...
None of my family or friends smoke but I don't need CVS dictating their own moral codes on the public.
Bet they"ll sell pot if its legalized and no I don't do that either.

Right on!!

This is an extension of our nanny state into corporate america.

Everyday more of our freedoms are being taken away.

How about leave us alone.

[buggyone]

Right on!!

This is an extension of our nanny state into corporate america.

Everyday more of our freedoms are being taken away.

How about leave us alone.

Isn't it up to a store to decide for themselves what they choose to sell? If they are authorized to sell a product such as tobacco, they can willfully choose to sell it or not.

I remember a large store in Prairie Du Chien, Wisconsin, that sold guns, ammo, and liquor all in the same store - but would not sell tobacco because the father of the owner died from smoking related disease.

Would you call that "nanny state" or moral choice?

[zonerboy]

This is a CEO I can respect. A man who stands up for what he thinks is right. A man who places principle ahead of profits.
If you don't support his policies, just shop at Walgreens. Freedom of choice, it's the American way.

[Indydealmaker]

The decision by CVS to drop tobacco products is not quite as altruistic as it may first appear.

They will initially get a lot of good PR, which is obvious, but tobacco products are not all that profitable for CVS. Yet, they are a pain in the butt at the store level. They are labor intensive to stock and to process at the cashier station. Now, that shelf space will be available for more profitable and less labor intensive items.

[twinklesweep]

Right on!!

This is an extension of our nanny state into corporate america.

Everyday more of our freedoms are being taken away.

How about leave us alone.

Unless I'm completely missing something, I don't understand this at all. A privately owned chain of stores (free enterprise...) makes a decision not to sell a particular product, and that makes us a "nanny state" and represents our freedoms being taken away? What freedom is being taken from me when a private business enterprise makes a decision as CVS has? At the risk of being facetious, am I going to hear next that the "nanny state" should step in and mandate that CVS cannot do what it has decided to do?

I don't experience stores running their moral codes on me; if anything, it's the reverse. There are stores and other businesses I choose not to patronize for a variety of reasons, and I am free to boycott them in relation to my own moral codes. My boycott may not amount to a hill of beans to the business, but I must live with myself, and no government agency is telling me what to do in relation to this.

I am amused at the hypocrisy of those who don't want government involvement in their lives, that is, until it serves them to have the services of the government available to them.... However, what CVS chooses to do regarding tobacco products has nothing to do with governmental dictates; those who feel the chain has done this for purely profitable business reasons with no regard for the public are certainly entitled to feel this way. I would suspect that there are smokers and others who will choose to boycott CVS, and that is certainly their right. But the government is not involved in this one!

[Villages PL]

Right on!!

This is an extension of our nanny state into corporate america.

Everyday more of our freedoms are being taken away.

How about leave us alone.

Wrong! This IS about freedom, freedom for a drugstore chain to sell whatever they choose to sell. We can give our opinions and try to influence what they sell but we cannot dictate what they must sell.


We now have a little more freedom from tobacco products, that's an added freedom. No freedoms were taken away.

[Villages PL]

Speaking of freedom of choice: There's freedom of choice for investors too. I noticed that CVS stock went down when the news came out and Walgreen's stock jumped up quite a bit. If Walgreens keeps being rewarded, I doubt they will change their policy anytime soon. Only time will tell.

[JP]

Unless I'm completely missing something, I don't understand this at all. A privately owned chain of stores (free enterprise...) makes a decision not to sell a particular product, and that makes us a "nanny state" and represents our freedoms being taken away? What freedom is being taken from me when a private business enterprise makes a decision as CVS has? At the risk of being facetious, am I going to hear next that the "nanny state" should step in and mandate that CVS cannot do what it has decided to do?

I don't experience stores running their moral codes on me; if anything, it's the reverse. There are stores and other businesses I choose not to patronize for a variety of reasons, and I am free to boycott them in relation to my own moral codes. My boycott may not amount to a hill of beans to the business, but I must live with myself, and no government agency is telling me what to do in relation to this.

I am amused at the hypocrisy of those who don't want government involvement in their lives, that is, until it serves them to have the services of the government available to them.... However, what CVS chooses to do regarding tobacco products has nothing to do with governmental dictates; those who feel the chain has done this for purely profitable business reasons with no regard for the public are certainly entitled to feel this way. I would suspect that there are smokers and others who will choose to boycott CVS, and that is certainly their right. But the government is not involved in this one!

How about this same company not selling the day after pill. Is that their choice? Your choice? The governments choice?

What else do they decide what not to sell based on their morale convictions or perceived health benefits?

I guess eventually we the consumer will have to know which drug stores sell what. Blah. I've got enough other stuff to think about.

To me it makes more sense to sell what people are buying and let the people themselves decide if they want to use a certain product.

[Barefoot]

.... in most locations, the decision to stop selling cigarettes is largely symbolic. They are going for the "halo" effect. It says: Look as us, we have a conscience. We care about your health more than we care about making money .....

I think that it's up to the decision makers at CVS to decide what inventory to stock. I don't see how it's a freedom being taken away ... people are free to shop anywhere they want.

It may be a symbolic public-relations gambit, but personally, I like it!

[Parker]

Whatever the reason, hats off to CVS. I am more likely to go there now, though in general I truly dislike the corner pharmacy store model.

[Suzi]

This is a CEO I can respect. A man who stands up for what he thinks is right. A man who places principle ahead of profits.
If you don't support his policies, just shop at Walgreens. Freedom of choice, it's the American way.



Being PC is overrated. I agree - this CEO has a backbone and I respect that!
Sometimes you do what is "just right".

[collie1228]

In the short term, some smokers will probably vote with their feet and stop shopping at CVS. That's their right. I think it's interesting that CVS sees itself as a health business, when the vast majority of their stores' floorspace has everything from soup to nuts (and beauty products, seasonal items, candy, photography, electronics, etc.) which seems to me makes them more of a general retailer than a health focused business. Did anyone see any comment from their CEO about their alcohol sales? They sell a lot of beer and wine. Seems that they should be stopping them as well, if they are truly interested in helping us customers stay healthy. A little bit of hypocrisy maybe?