CONNECTICUT – Stop & Shop will stop selling cigarettes and other tobacco products this weekend.
The Massachusetts-based supermarket chain announced Monday that the measure includes discontinuing “all cigarettes and tobacco products” in its 360 stores in Connecticut, Massachusetts, Rhode Island, New York and New Jersey by August 31 (Saturday), as “part of the brand’s commitment to the common good.”
Gordin Reud, President of Stop & Shop, said: “Our responsibility as a grocer extends far beyond our shelves, and we are committed to taking bold steps to help our employees, customers and communities work toward better health outcomes.”
He added: “From our team of board-certified dietitians who serve our customers free of charge to our trained and trusted pharmacy staff, Stop & Shop aims to support the health and well-being of the neighborhoods we serve – and this tobacco cessation is another way we’re achieving that goal.”
As part of its exit from the tobacco industry, Stop & Shop is “encouraging its customers to quit smoking” by holding two cigarette buyback events on August 28 in Boston and New York City. Stop & Shop says these are neighborhoods in the brand’s service area where smoking rates and smoking-related health problems are higher.
The program is celebrated as a partnership between Stop & Shop and the American Cancer Society.
“We are pleased to partner with Stop & Shop as they have committed to ending the sale of all tobacco products in their stores,” said Dr. Karen E. Knudsen, CEO of the American Cancer Society and the American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network. “This is a step in the right direction to end the tobacco industry’s influence on children, and we know more can be done to reduce the burden of tobacco in our communities. From state and local governments to schools and businesses, we can all do our part to protect public health. We urge state legislators to prioritize funding for tobacco control programs so that those motivated to quit through these efforts have the tools they need to succeed.”
Stop and Shop locations in Connecticut include:
According to the World Health Organization, approximately 780 million people worldwide want to “quit smoking,” but only 30 percent have access to the “means” to do so.
“The health of our communities is a priority and quitting smoking significantly reduces the risk of developing smoking-related diseases. Our licensed pharmacists can help you quit smoking and provide vaccination recommendations for people whose immune systems may be weakened by smoking,” said Katie Thornell, Stop & Shop’s pharmacy manager. “We welcome anyone who wants to quit smoking to come speak to one of our specially trained, dedicated pharmacists who partner with our customers to support their needs at a time that is convenient for them.”
