CVS: Consumers don’t smoke ’em if they don’t got ’em

Woonsocket, R.I. – When consumers have less access to cigarettes, they smoke fewer of them.



This is the basic conclusion of a new report from CVS Health showing that overall cigarette sales fell in 13 states where CVS has more than a 15% market share.



In the eight-month period following CVS’ decision to stop selling cigarettes in August 2014, data from the retailer shows cigarette sales were 1% lower than in three states with no CVS stores. This averaged out to five fewer packs of cigarettes per smoker, or 95.2 million total fewer packs.



At the same time, nicotine patch sales increased by 4%, or five packages per 1,000 smokers, in the month immediately following the tobacco sales removal. Patch sales returned to pre-removal levels over time.