CVS to stop selling tobacco products

If you plan to pick up a pack of cigarettes with your prescription at a Binghamton area pharmacy, you may want to prepare yourself to make an extra stop.

The nation's second large drug store chain CVS, announced it will remove cigarettes and other tobacco products from behind its counters beginning October 1st.

"Ending the sale of cigarettes and tobacco products at CVS/pharmacy is the right thing for us to do for our customers and our company to help people on their path to better health," Larry J. Merlo, president and CEO of CVS Caremark, said in a statement. "Put simply, the sale of tobacco products is inconsistent with our purpose."

According to the "Wall Street Journal," the bold move will cost the drugstore chain $2 billion in annual revenue.

Jeff Seyler, Northeast President and CEO of the American Lung Association quickly issued a press release stating: "We strongly agree that stopping the sale of tobacco products at a business that is meant to promote wellness is in keeping with their central mission and the right move for healthier lungs and healthier families across our country."

"We are especially gratified to see Rhode Island-based CVS Caremark become the first national pharmacy chain to make the decision to promote tools to help smokers quit instead of selling tobacco. We call on all drugstores and pharmacy chains to follow suit and promptly stop selling tobacco products."

As of yet, no word from Walgreens and Rite Aid.

So what do you think of this bold move? Do you think others will follow in the footsteps of the drug store chain?