New York will prohibit the sale of tobacco in pharmacies as of January 1
New York, a city in which 12,000 people die each year from smoking, will prohibit the sale of cigarettes and other tobacco products in pharmacies from January 1, including those located in supermarkets and supermarkets.
The Department of Health of the Big Apple announced this measure in a statement, which aims to reduce the consumption of tobacco among the population.
E-cigarette sales were already banned in pharmacies last August, when the new license for e-cigarette retailers in New York went into effect.
Both measures are part of a legislative package promulgated by the mayor of New York, Bill de Blasio, in August 2017.
The New York City Council recalls that tobacco use continues to be one of the main causes of avoidable death, causing 12,000 deaths each year in the city.
Despite the decrease in the smoking rate, there are still more than 860,000 adults and 13,000 young people who smoke in New York City.
One of the most important pharmacy chains in the United States, CVS Pharmacy, and several independent pharmacies have already voluntarily stopped selling tobacco products three or four years ago, but nearly 500 pharmacies continue to sell tobacco products in New York, according to the municipality. .
"Tobacco use continues to be one of the leading causes of preventable death in New York City, and reducing its availability is key to protecting the health of New Yorkers," said Deputy Mayor for Health and Human Services, Dr. Herminia Palace.
According to Palacio, "people are confident that pharmacies will help them stay well, they should help smokers quit smoking, not the other way around, and I'm excited to see the impact this regulation will have on the health of New Yorkers."
Mayor Bill de Blasio signed a package of laws in August 2017 to reduce tobacco consumption, which includes the increase in minimum prices for all tobacco products; limit the number of retailers; create a retail license for electronic cigarettes not open to pharmacies, prohibiting e-cigs in these establishments; limit the number of electronic cigarette retailers; and promote smoke-free spaces in residential environments such as sheltered housing.
