Report: Walgreen Fights Tobacco Sales Ban
New York City Walgreen Co. has asked a San Francisco state court to block implementation of a recently passed city order banning sale of tobacco products at pharmacies, effective Oct. 1, the Wall Street Journal reported. The order would affect 52 Walgreen pharmacies in San Francisco.
The chain alleges the new law is anticompetitive and unconstitutional since it does not ban tobacco sales at grocery stores and wholesale clubs that also have pharmacies.
The California Superior Court set a Sept. 30 hearing date for preliminary injunction.
San Francisco is the first U.S. city to pass a ban on cigarette sales at drug stores. Boston is contemplating implementing a similar ban, according to the report.