After years of pressure for big chains to cut ties with tobacco, Walmart is taking a step towards removing tobacco. Coming soon, Walmart will remove cigarettes in select stores.
Select stores in Florida, California, Arkansas, and New Mexico will be removing cigarettes. A Walmart spokesperson told CNN Business that it made the ‘business decision’ to end tobacco sales in select stores ‘as a result of our ongoing focus on the tobacco category.’
Public health officials have urged retailers to stop selling tobacco for a while now. In 2014, letters were sent to pharmacies, Walmart, and other retailers.
The letter reads, “There is a contradiction in having these dangerous and devastating tobacco products on the shelves of a retail chain that services health care needs.”
Though Target stopped selling tobacco in 1996, other retailers continued to have tobacco on their selves. CVS stopped selling tobacco in 2014, citing selling tobacco was “inconsistent with our purpose.” Walgreens tobacco sales have taken a considerable plummet, and expect their sales to continue to decrease.
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