QUINCY — Consumers will no longer be able to purchase cigarettes and other tobacco products at Stop & Shop, according to a news release from the Quincy-based grocer Monday. The company is touting the move as part of its “commitment to community well-being.”
All 360 Stop & Shop locations in Massachusetts, Rhode Island, Connecticut, New York and New Jersey will stop selling tobacco on August 31, the press release said.
Smoking is the leading cause of cancer worldwide and, according to the American Cancer Research Institute, leads to nearly 6 million deaths each year.
Stop & Shop will host two “cigarette buyback events” on Wednesday, August 28, at the Grove Hall location in Dorchester, 460 Blue Hill Ave., and the Staten Island, New York location, 1351 Forest Ave.
The first 100 customers to return unopened cigarette packs or cartons at each location will receive a Stop & Shop gift card, as well as healthy snacks, mints and other tools to help them quit smoking, the release said. Stop & Shop has partnered with the American Cancer Society and its partner Cancer Action Network on the campaign.
“Our responsibility as a grocer extends far beyond our shelves, and we are committed to taking bold steps to help our associates, customers and communities work toward better health outcomes,” Stop & Shop President Gordon Reid said in a statement.
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Reach Peter Blandino at [email protected].
