Drug store chain CVS says its decision not to sell cigarettes has caused a one-percent drop in cigarette sales for other retailers. CVS officials say that’s the case in 13 states where CVS has a large market share. It’s been almost a year since the drug store chain stopped selling cigarettes to boost its image as a healthcare provider. That one-percent drop in sales equates to tens of millions fewer packs of cigarettes sold. Some anti-tobacco groups call the result significant and want other retailers to also halt cigarette sales. Others point out overall smoking rates in the U.S. have been on the decline anyway. The CDC says there are more than 480-thousand deaths from smoking every year in this country. The health agency adds that smoking is our nation’s single most preventable cause of death and disease.
