"We're the first national pharmacy chain to say that we're changing," CVS CEO Larry Merlo said Wednesday on CBS This Morning.
Merlo announced Wednesday that all CVS drugstores will stop carrying tobacco products effective Oct. 1, 2014. "It's a contradiction to talk about the things CVS is doing to help health care, and to also sell tobacco products."
CVS becomes the first major United States pharmacy chain to remove tobacco from its 7,600 stores nationwide. CVS Caremark is the nation's second-largest drugstore chain.
Walgreen's pharmacies, the nation's largest chain, said it will not stop selling tobacco products, but will continue to evaluate the product category.
The White House responded to the announcement with a statement from President Obama saying that CVS was setting a "powerful example" with the decision.
CVS estimates that it will lose approximately $2 billion in revenue on an annual basis from the tobacco shopper, retail analyst Chuck Grom says.
#cvsquits. Today we announced that as of Oct 1, we will no longer sell tobacco in any CVS/pharmacy. http://t.co/EgdDWMpgFI
Thanks @CVS_Extra, now we can all breathe a little easier, and our families can live healthier. –mo
Obama: "Today’s decision will help advance my Administration’s efforts to reduce tobacco-related deaths, cancer, and heart disease." #CVS
CVS' decision to eliminate #tobacco sales is a major milestone in the effort to reduce tobacco use: http://t.co/WkzCqqXui2 #CVSquits
CVS updated its official Twitter account with a "no smoking" avatar on Wednesday.
