New York State Ban on Selling Tobacco in Drug Stores

[JohnRider]

More nannyism on display in New York.

Less than a week after Wegmans Food Markets announced it would no longer sell tobacco products, New York State Assemblyman Sam Hoyt (D-Buffalo, Grand Island) is pressing the issue further.

While lauding retail outlets which have dropped the sale of tobacco products on a voluntary basis, Hoyt now proposes a law which would ban the sale of tobacco products at certain retail outlets in New York State.

"In light of the overwhelming evidence of the harmful nature of cigarette smoking on ones health and the astronomical public health cost posed by tobacco products it is contradictory and counter intuitive to sell such products in any establishment whose purpose is to provide remedies to health problems," he said.

Hoyt has some support for his bill from the health care sector. "It really works to de-normalize the sale of tobacco," said Jim Ver Steeg of the American Heart Association. "And by de-normalize we mean taking it out of the pharmacies and the places normally associated with health care," he said.

Dr. K. Michael Cummings of the Rowell Park Cancer Institute also expressed his support. "We don’t think pharmacies should be selling tobacco period and this is a ‘no brainer’ for anyone in the health care field."

In reality, pharmacies do not sell a lot of cigarettes. One survey, by Nielsen Marketing Research, indicates fewer than 7% of the cigarettes sold in the U.S annually are sold in drug stores. That same survey indicated a whopping 40-percent of sales are made in convenience stores which the Hoyt bill would not effect if passed.

[JoeyBear]

Well, that's a new one. Does someone stay up at night thinking of this bullshit? It's not my state, but first they raise taxes higher than any state in the country and now they decide where cigarettes can be sold???

[jam]

NY is the best for taking away all rights except pay taxes

[smokem-cl]

Welcome to NY...we have every thing you could ask for, but ask before you want something...chances are it's illegal!

Oh, and did we tax you twice on that!?!?! no? sorry, our mistake, let us fix that for you.

Seat belt on...check

Helmet on...check

Headlights on...check

State deciding what's good for me....check

[Yesenia-cl]

Ugh. Too pissed for words. I can't wait to get out of this effin city!

[jitzy]

I think its great I only hope that the'll tax me more for the loss of revenue as a result of this couse than I would really be happy the seven grand a year I pay in property taxes is way to low right now for me anyway.

[jitzy]

I'm just glad the drug stores don't sell tons of candy and junk food couse that stuff is bad for you oh wait what they do sell that

[cigardocdoc]

After working at a drug store for a couple years, I'll admit my life would have been easier not selling tobacco. Contrary to what that article suggests, we did sell a good deal and it was a pain in the butt to have to learn all of the brands of cigarettes so I could quickly retrieve them when a consumer asked for one.

But that's the business' right! Again, why not candy and soda? Beer or wine? Or unregulated diet pills and "nutritional supplements"? Since when is CVS and Walgreens top priority health? They're about money. Outside of the actual pharmacy we made all of our money from soda and paper towel sales.

[Doogie]

Originally Posted by smokem

Welcome to NY...we have every thing you could ask for, but ask before you want something...chances are it's illegal!

Oh, and did we tax you twice on that!?!?! no? sorry, our mistake, let us fix that for you.

Seat belt on...check

Helmet on...check

Headlights on...check

State deciding what's good for me....check

don't forget no cellphone:angry:

[jam]

its getting worse now there putting orange stickers on your garbage and recycle if its not on the proper day they want clear garbage bags so they can see if theres recycle in the garbage only 20 gal garbage pales they are crazy

[CigarRob]

Term limits. End the years and years of power and control with term limits on these bozos. These idiots believe they have some divine authority to keep reaching deeper and deeper into our personal, private lives while widdling away at the constitution. Limit their power, preserve your own.

[mrgatorman]

crap...crap....just plain crap