According to Jan Johnson, Florida state coordinator and David W. Kuneman,director of research for the Citizens Freedom Alliance, CVS is insulting the one-fifth of Americans who choose to smoke willingly, according to an opposing view column in USA Today.
"Many of us have been smokers for years. We have lived through losing out on jobs, paying higher taxes, being cast out of establishments we once went to for fun, and watching places we once loved close down after smoking was banned," reads the article.
Now, it seems as if legal smokers who use a legal product are being shunned by America, USA Today reported.
Even with CVS counting the $2 million in losses from annual tobacco sales, they might have overlooked the other items smokes buy when in the store, according to USA Today. CVS stocks dropped one percent after making their announcement on Wednesday.
"CVS may claim its intention is to promote better health among its customers, but if that's the case, then why continue to sell alcoholic beverages, candy, soda and other forms of junk food that also are claimed to be unhealthy? And what about the energy drinks that have come under so much fire lately?," the article questions.
Currently, 20 percent of CVS customers smoke, but now with company ridding their stores of tobacco products beginning in October, smokers may stay out of the store altogether, USA Today reported.
"CVS must know that those customers will simply go elsewhere to purchase tobacco products. This move by CVS is unlikely to make even one smoker in America quit," according to USA Today. "As the prohibition of alcohol showed, forcing a product underground doesn't mean people won't still use it."
