CVS Health

[Airplanedoc]

As you probably heard CVS is now CVS Health... Now that they are a "health store" they have become righteous and will no longer sell tobacco products. I don't smoke so it really does not affect me. However, I swing by "CVS Health" on my way home and the guy in front of me has a cart full of 2L of soda, and I see that candy bars are BOGO. It gets me thinking, if you are a "Health Store" and now can't sell tobacco any more because it goes against your moral imperative, should you be selling Candy, Soda, Chips, Beer, Liquor, Wine, as well as other probably questionable products. Then as I stood looking at all the "CVS Health" re branding where the smokes used to be, I thought screw these hypocrites and I left, and drove someplace else to get my toothpaste.

gets off soapbox

 

[Zuljin]

Chocolate, beer, wine and liquor have all shown to be good for you, in the right amounts. Well, that was today. It may change again tomorrow. A 7-Up or ginger ale can be good for an upset stomach.

Heck, even cigarettes are good because they exercise your lungs with all that extra breathing.

Okay. Maybe not that last part.

 

[gratus fermentatio]

CVS in Missoula has 1 of the best wine selections in town. I know that sounds pretty pathetic, but it's not, they do have a very good selection. I don't care if they sell tobacco or not, but I do hate it when a company gets on the "holier than thou" bandwagon. I thought the company was in biz to make money, not make moral judgements. OP has a valid point.
Regards, GF.

 

[Beernik]

It's easier to look like you are doing something than to actually do something.

At one of my wife's old jobs they decided to promote healthy snacking by taking all the candy bars out of the vending machines. They left all the high salt chips and trail mixes and sugary sodas in the vending machines.

I had a job where they banned smoking on the property. So you ended up with a cluster of smokers in front of the building, on the sidewalk on both sides of the building instead of hidden away in the butt-hut.

Problem solved, right?

 

[Hello]

In a weird way I was impressed to see tobacco products removed from CVS. I am a former smoker, pack a day right on target and without fail. However, like you I suddenly realized that while they removed tobacco products, they did not remove the huge candy isle that they have. They keep the very things you write about without fail. In order to promote a truly healthy lifestyle as a retailer, you have to remove everything that is said to be bad for you. Basically CVS is just taking a stand against big tobacco. I assure you, I'm a big girl and at any given point I bet I can eat my way into diabetes and other alarming health issues faster than I can smoke my way to death.

I still think it is nice that they did that but they need to get off their ivory tower because they're not exactly promoting healthy lifestyles when they offer a vast selection of candy and other goodies.

 

[CreamyGoodness]

Here are the thing the OPs point doesnt take into account:

1) CVS (or CVS Health) would NOT have made this move if their customer base had not called for it. CVS Health is a public company that is beholden to its shareholders. If the loss of revenue on the tobacco products was not offset by revenues or margin expansion caused by their new operating model it would diminish shareholder value. Diminish shareholder value purposefully and you will find yourself in court. Plus, its just bad business to make a move that diminishes shareholder value, particularly in the longrun. Thesis: This was a business move intended to bring more custormers into the stores. So far, it is working. Stock price and revenues are up.

2) Candy bars, sodas, chips and other junk foods, when consumed in moderation, can be part of a healthful diet. Diabetics often cary a snickers bar on them for when they need a boost to their sugar levels. Removing these items doesnt make as much sense as removing tobacco products which... not counting the mosquito repellant effect tobacco smoke has exhibited in places where malaria is a concern.... have absolutely zero healthful properties. When consumed in moderation, a feat that a tiny portion of the population has been able to pull off historically, cigarette smoke and smokeless tobacco still pose a risk to health whilst giving ABSOLUTELY NOTHING BACK. Thesis: Beer has nutrition, candy has sugar... etc. etc..... tobacco has no redeeming healthful or medical qualities other than that its continued use relieves the withdrawal symptoms from reduced tobacco use.

Frankly, given the above, the idea that CVS has to stop selling candy and soda because they stopped selling tobacco and thus claim to care about their customers's health is completely absurd.

/rant

 

[Homercidal]

Well, I was going to post pretty much exactly what Creamy posted. Candy (Sugar) in moderation is barely a health hazard. We as a society, are generally ingrained to eat a ton more of that crap than is healthy for us. That's the problem, not the few ounces of chocolate a few times a month. It's the dessert after every meal, and the sugary snacks a few times a day.

On the other hand, there isn't any useful benefit to smoking, on a physical level. It's all bad for you (and others in some cases).

We could argue all day about which food is healthy and which food is unhealthy. A lot of it has to do with how much of certain things you eat, AND how much exercise you get to go along with it.

It's the same with alcohol. Moderation has been proven it to be healthy.

 

[broadbill]

Corporations are people too (citizen's united). They have a right to be as hypocritical as the rest of us. Why do you hate America?

 

[Airplanedoc]

I mentioned this to my friend last night while out doing some photography. He said he posted this very thing (sometime back) on CVS Health's facebook page and his comment was removed and he was blocked/banned within the hour.

 

[myelo]

Good for them I say. They're giving up a couple billion in sales to make a point (although I'm sure there are ulterior motives). I come from several generation of tobacco farmers and think adults should be able to use tobacco if they want. But it's a product that kills 5 million people a year and I think it would be hypocritical for a health care/pharmacy to make money selling the stuff.

 

[arturo7]

Removing tobacco is probably one step of a long term plan. CVS wants to position themselves as a healthcare provider. They already offer flu shots and some testing. Dumping junk food may happen at some point in the future.

 

[Jupapabear]

Nicotine has it's uses. Or so say the big guys

 

[passedpawn]

Why can't we take a step in the right direction without someone asking us why we aren't running? OK, don't answer that.

Why do we rant? Yea, don't answer that one either.

Bing Crosby said it best (and the Andrew's Sisters, also awesome):

 

[gratus fermentatio]

Nicotine has it's uses. Or so say the big guys

It makes a great insecticide. :cross:

 

[Sammy86]

I used to work at a retail establishment known for selling sporting goods...one of the big three I won't mention names...

Anyway, during the Christmas season of 10-11 they decided to stop selling candy and "non-healthy" foods by the register...sales numbers went down enough that right before I left in July of 2012 they brought it back

It's sad that our country thrives on junk food! And no sugar rush during Black Friday sales when we opened at 4 AM!

Glad to be out of retail!

 

[CreamyGoodness]

Btw... its sad that a good sized chunk of the population (Im not saying anyone here) is convinced that the PC government compelled CVS to do this against their will...

 

[illinoisbrassman]

I used to work at a retail establishment known for selling sporting goods...one of the big three I won't mention names...

Anyway, during the Christmas season of 10-11 they decided to stop selling candy and "non-healthy" foods by the register...sales numbers went down enough that right before I left in July of 2012 they brought it back

It's sad that our country thrives on junk food! And no sugar rush during Black Friday sales when we opened at 4 AM!

Glad to be out of retail!

I realize that stuff obviously sells, but as a person who rarely buys junk food at the front of the store, I am surprised it is a significant source of income at a sporting goods store.

 

[BrerRabbitBrew]

I honestly was a little sad to hear about CVS dumping tobacco products because it's just about the only chain store where I could reliably find decent pipe tobacco.

 

[CreamyGoodness]

I honestly was a little sad to hear about CVS dumping tobacco products because it's just about the only chain store where I could reliably find decent pipe tobacco.

Thats fair enough.

 

[Sammy86]

I realize that stuff obviously sells, but as a person who rarely buys junk food at the front of the store, I am surprised it is a significant source of income at a sporting goods store.

You'd be surprised how much two grand a month missing income for 24 months hurts a bottom line

 

[Homercidal]

Btw... its sad that a good sized chunk of the population (Im not saying anyone here) is convinced that the PC government compelled CVS to do this against their will...

Because the government of NY would never think of doing anything like that??

 

[CreamyGoodness]

Because the government of NY would never think of doing anything like that??

If you are referring to the "big soda ban," that was struck down in the court of law and the court of public opinion. What made that so insidious is now every time any regulation/legistlation of any sort is reported on, someone will mention it whether or not there are any synergies.

Not to mention, CVS (CVS Health) is a national corporation. This isnt a state or city issue.

In fact, it isnt an issue at all. If someone wants to buy cigarettes, they are within their rights to go to any number of other brick and morter and online retailers and wholesalers and do so.

 

[cujocon]

I worked for CVS corporate for a short while...in beautiful Woonsocket, RI.
Tobacco sales are a huge PITA, each state has tax stamps and security rules and training staff who to sell to...........
(and tobacco sales had been waning for a good long while, why not take the loss up front and get some good free press)
It is fantastic to me that they dumped tobacco.
As for junk food, crawl before you walk etc.

 

[Homercidal]

If you are referring to the "big soda ban," that was struck down in the court of law and the court of public opinion. What made that so insidious is now every time any regulation/legistlation of any sort is reported on, someone will mention it whether or not there are any synergies.

Not to mention, CVS (CVS Health) is a national corporation. This isnt a state or city issue.

In fact, it isnt an issue at all. If someone wants to buy cigarettes, they are within their rights to go to any number of other brick and morter and online retailers and wholesalers and do so.

Exactly why my point was that the GOV might have pressed a company like CVS to adopt a policy limiting what might be considered a harmful substance. You know, if you believe in conspiracy theories...

 

[CreamyGoodness]

You know, if you believe in conspiracy theories...

I dont.

The chances of not just regulatory pressure but super double secret regulatory pressure being applied are astronomically low. It would come up on a quarterly conference call at the very least.