Advocates urge tobacco ban in B.C. drug stores

From the Vancouver Sun:
B.C. is one of the last three provinces in Canada allowing cigarettes and other deadly tobacco products to be sold in pharmacies.

Anti-tobacco advocates argue that sends a conflicting message to people - especially youths - who go to drug stores for health products and counselling.

The issue will be discussed at a meeting Tuesday between B.C. Health Minister George Abbott and the B.C. and Yukon branch of the Canadian Cancer Society. ...more

Pharmacists slammed for tobacco sales

From Vancouver 24 Hours:
The Canadian Cancer Society again condemned cigarette sales in B.C. pharmacies yesterday slamming health professionals who choose profit over their client's wellbeing.

"Pharmacists who prescribe products to make you feel better should not be able to sell cigarettes which, when used as directed, kill," said society spokesperson Kathryn Seely.

In Alberta, legislators passed a bill banning tobacco sales in pharmacies, including big-box stores with a drug dispensary.

The B.C. Pharmacy Association demands proof Alberta's plan to strip pharmacists' ability to sell tobacco, starting in 2009, reduces smoking rates.

For now, "It's a business decision that's being made as to what products are going to be carried elsewhere outside of the dispensary," said BCPA CEO Marnie Mitchell. ...more

Anti-smoking bill calls for maximum $100,000 fine

From the Edmonton Journal:
Alberta's tough new anti-smoking legislation will slap fines of up to $100,000 on stores that visibly display or advertise the tobacco products they sell, or on any pharmacies, post-secondary campuses or health facilities that vend the cancer-causing product.

But the bill, which Health Minister Dave Hancock introduced Tuesday, did not specify when its tobacco-control measures will take effect. ...more

Smoke habit hard for stores to break

The ban of tobacco sales in pharmacies in Alberta is imminent. We know that legislation will be enacted, but the effective date is not known yet. While it's quite evident how the change will affect smaller pharmacies that still stock cigarettes, it seemed a lot less clear to me regarding the big grocery stores with pharmacies. However, we seem to have an answer in this article:

As for the pharmacy rule, (Health Minister David) Hancock said Wednesday it will even apply to sprawling retailers like Costco and supermarkets that house both pharmacies and cigarette counters.

"They'll have to choose," he said.

That's a bold statement. I would expect that grocery stores with adjacent liquor stores could just move cigarettes into those locales, but that won't cover a significant percentage of these retailers. I have a hard time imagining that Costco, which sells an enormous amount of cigarettes which ultimately are sold by retailers, would be willing to give these sales up. I guess we'll have to wait and see.

From the Edmonton Journal:
The government's sweeping anti-tobacco legislation will hit retailers the hardest, forcing corner stores to hide their lucrative product and making even large grocery stores choose between their pharmacies and cigarette sales, Health Minister Dave Hancock said.

His Tobacco Reduction Act will be introduced next week. In addition to making all Alberta workplaces smoke-free, the bill would ban visible displays or advertisements of tobacco products in stores, and prohibit cigarette sales at any location selling prescription drugs. ...more

Smokers, vendors have summer to adjust

Alberta is planning on passing some tough new anti-smoking laws, including rules that would prevent sales of tobacco products in pharmacies. I'm curious to see how that will actually work in practice. Does this mean grocery stores with pharmacy departments will be prevented from selling cigarettes?

From the Edmonton Journal:
The provincial government signalled an end Thursday to Alberta's ranking as Canada's most smoker-friendly province, approving a provincewide ban on smoking in workplaces and other steps that would make Alberta one of the toughest anti-tobacco jurisdictions.

Conservative MLAs, a group that has long opposed cracking down on where smokers can light up, also decided to prohibit visible cigarette ads or displays in stores, and to ban sales of tobacco products in pharmacies, post-secondary schools or health facilities.

It's unclear when the plan will take effect, but it will also prohibit smoking near doorways and windows, to shield people from the toxins of second-hand smoke, Health Minister Dave Hancock said. ...more