New Bill would ban sale of tobacco at RI pharmacies
By Matt Blanchette
@mattblanchette
A bill that would ban all local or national pharmacies in Rhode Island from selling tobacco products was heard on the house floor Tuesday night. It was introduced by Katherine Kazarian of East Providence.
“They are selling medicines to treat the health problems that people receive from using tobacco products right next to the tobacco products that they are selling,,” she pointed out, adding, “so it just seems like it is incongruous and there is a mixed message for the consumer.“
The owners of Phred’s Drugs in Cranston, an independent pharmacy that also sells liquor, say cigarette sales account for 8 percent of their business, but there is no telling how much residual business and foot traffic would be lost because of a ban.
“I am definitely willing to work with both the small pharmacies and the big companies to figure out what the best thing to do for the health of our citizens would be,” Kazarian said.
CVS, the nation’s second largest retail pharmacy, voluntarily took tobacco off the shelves last September but Phred’s owner Mike Rossi says his business model is nothing like that of CVS.
Smokers and non–smoker’s alike are split on the issue.
“I would love to see them try to do that with alcohol. They are not going to say oh we are not going to sell liquor anymore. If they are going to do it with cigarettes ,a drug, why not alcohol?” Bill Linehan of Warwick said.
“Small businesses should always be supported, but I don’t know that it should be supported by someone’s health,” Bridgette Brown said.
Added Frank Thorpe, “If people want to smoke they are going to find a way to get it. There are no ifs ands or buts about it.“
