BOSTON, Mass. (WLNE) — Stop & Shop announced today that it will stop selling all cigarettes and tobacco products in its 360 stores.
According to a press release, the grocery retailer, which has stores in Massachusetts, Rhode Island, Connecticut, New York and New Jersey, plans to stop selling all tobacco products in all stores by August 31 as part of the brand’s “commitment to community well-being.”
“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,” said Gordon Reid, president of Stop & Shop.
“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 communities we serve – and this tobacco cessation is another way we are achieving that goal,” he continued.
Stop & Shop said some of its stores will stop selling tobacco products. The company hopes to encourage customers to quit smoking by holding two cigarette buyback events in Boston and New York on August 28.
According to the World Health Organization, approximately 780 million people worldwide want to quit smoking, but only 30 percent have access to the necessary resources.
According to the WHO, tobacco use can lead to tobacco dependence and serious health problems.
