Some Smokers Say It’s Harder to Buy Cigarettes Now that CVS Doesn’t Sell Tobacco

A survey of smokers who used to purchase cigarettes at CVS finds more than half say it is harder to buy cigarettes now that the pharmacy chain has stopped selling tobacco products.

The survey found 52 percent said the move by CVS has impacted their ability to buy cigarettes regularly, CSPnet.com reports. Of that group, 73 percent called the impact manageable, stating, “buying cigarettes is now harder but I have other options.” The remaining 27 percent said it made buying cigarettes “much harder.”

Smokers who used to buy cigarettes are CVS are most likely to purchase them now at gas stations, followed by Walmart and Walgreens.

CVS stopped selling tobacco in the fall of 2014 in all of its stores. In February 2014 the company announced it would stop selling tobacco products because the sales conflicted with its healthcare mission.

The survey, commissioned by the e-cigarette manufacturer V2, found 43 percent of respondents were neutral about the pharmacy chain’s decision to stop selling tobacco. The survey found 33 percent disagreed with the decision and 24 percent supported it.

“Gas stations, in our survey, covers a wide range of [convenience] store retailers and brick-and-mortar brands,” said Adam Kustin, vice president of marketing for V2. “It’s no secret that most cigarettes are sold in this channel. With CVS halting their sales, c-stores are getting additional customers.”

The article notes CVS does not sell e-cigarettes or vapor products.