Law would create tobacco-free pharmacies
Widespread support for law at recent public hearing
ALBANY (April 3rd, 2018) — Nearly a dozen people — parents, health experts and academic professionals — spoke before the Albany County Legislature last week in support of a public health initiative that would prohibit pharmacies from selling tobacco.
Introduced by Legislator Paul Miller and co-sponsored by Chairman Andrew Joyce, Majority Leader Gary W. Domalewicz, and several other Democrats, Local Law A states that no pharmacy located in Albany County shall sell tobacco and nicotine products.
“The co-location of the sale of products that are deadly and addictive when used as directed runs counter to the services provided by pharmacists to improve health,” the law states. “Studies show that when pharmacies have stopped selling tobacco products, tobacco sales in the affected area have declined significantly. Also, easy access to tobacco retailers makes it harder for smokers to quit, particularly in low-income areas.”
Smoking causes cancer, cardiovascular disease, respiratory illnesses, hypertension and other health problems. It is the leading cause of preventable illness and death. In New York State, 28,000 smokers die every year and 750,000 live with serious smoking-related illnesses. Nationally, 480,000 people die each year from smoking and another 41,000 from second-hand smoke exposure, bringing the total to more than half a million.
Smoking costs $10.9 billion in annual health care expenditures and $7.33 billion in productivity losses in New York State alone.
“Pharmacies are licensed for the purpose of improving people’s health,” said Legislator Paul Miller (D-District 32). “Children and teens may be especially influenced by the message conveyed by the pairing of healthy products with toxic, deadly products. They may get the impression that cigarettes and other nicotine products are not hazardous because they are sold at drug stores.”
Legislator Miller previously sponsored laws that prohibit the sale of tobacco products and e-cigarettes to adults under the age of 21, and bans smoking in Albany County-owned parks and recreation areas.
Among those speaking in support of Miller’s Tobacco-less pharmacies bill last week were representatives from the American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network, Capital District Tobacco-Free Communities and the American Heart Association. Judy Rightmyer, director of Capital District Tobacco-Free Communities, said New York City, Rockland County and much of Massachusetts banned tobacco sales in pharmacies.
“I’d like to thank Legislator Paul Miller and the advocates from the health community who have made this latest Albany County health law a priority,” said Chairman Andrew Joyce (D-District 9).
Most independently owned pharmacies in the Capital Region and CVS stores nationwide ceased carrying cigarettes because it conflicted with their purpose of helping people on paths to better health.
Majority Leader Gary W. Domalewicz (D-District 10) said at the public hearing that the supermarket chain Price Chopper is no longer selling cigarettes at locations that are converted into Market 32 stores. “Market 32 markets are doing away with cigarettes because they are trying to mimic Wegmans,” he said. “Wegmans is at the forefront in banning cigarette sales. You won’t find any Wegmans’ stores that sell cigarettes.”
Legislator Paul Miller said prohibiting the sale of tobacco and other nicotine products in pharmacies and retail establishments containing pharmacies is an important step in denormalizing smoking. “Albany County needs to do everything we can to convey the message that smoking and other methods of inhaling nicotine are addictive, unhealthy and deadly,” Miller said.
Members are still discussing the proposed law in committee. A vote could take place in the coming months.
