Date: Fri 03-Apr-1998

Publication: Bee

Author: SUZANN

Quick Words:

Bates-Drug-Center-tobacco

Full Text:

Drug Center Snuffs Out Cigarette Sales

BY SUZANNA NYBERG

It is a rare thing when businessmen are willing to forego profits, but Don and

Diane Bates, the owners of Newtown Drug Center, stopped selling cigarettes at

their pharmacy on April 1.

"I'm not concerned with the money," said Mr Bates. "I'm doing this for health

reasons. And I should have done it earlier."

His wife agrees. "If you're in the health industry, selling cigarettes is a

contradiction," she said.

The store's cigar section is now gone and has been replaced by a travel rack,

replete with travel-size shampoos and toothpastes. The cigarette racks behind

the counter have disappeared, and by next week the Bates expect to stock the

space with brochures offering advice on how to stop smoking and phone numbers

of resources that provide support. He has also accessed information from the

Internet on how to stop smoking.

"This is a great idea; so many diseases are caused by smoking," said Catherine

Young, an employee at the drug center for more than ten years. "Working in a

pharmacy, I constantly see people being treated for conditions related to

smoking."

When the Bates made their decision to enact a no-cigarette policy, they took

steps to be as accommodating as possible to their customers. They have

displayed signs at the register indicating the change and have passed notes to

their smoking customers letting them know of the new policy. They also will

continue to supply their homebound customers with cigarettes from other

stores.

Mr Bates expects the decision will have ramifications for his other sales. He

says that cigarette sales are frequently tied to the sale of Lotto tickets and

newspapers and that there is the possibility customers will turn to stores

that continue to sell cigarettes for the sake of convenience. "If I don't

offer them, people will stop elsewhere," Bates said.

As customers often prefer one-stop shopping, purchasing everything from school

supplies to candy at one place, Mr Bates is prepared to accept the

consequences of pushing customers to the competition. "I'll take a cut on at

least three sales," he said, referring to daily purchases of cigarettes, Lotto

tickets, and newspapers. "But I'm not going to worry about the repercussions.

I'm going with my heart."

Perturbed especially by the rise in teen smoking, Mr Bates wants to set an

example for young people and make it impossible for teens to obtain cigarettes

from his pharmacy. He suspects that peer pressures can encourage some teens to

supply cigarettes for their friends. "Too many young people are smoking," he

said. "And I'm in the health business."

While Mr Bates knows that he cannot stop anyone from smoking, he says that he

can cease to be a source for a dangerous habit.

Instead of fretting about losing money, he will look for other ways to

generate revenue, including non-smoking products, such as patches. He reports

that many organizations, including the American Cancer Society, support his

decision and have been sending him material to help make the transition. The

pharmaceutical literature he has read has also offered suggestions. "I feel

good about what I'm doing," Mr Bates said.

"This is an interesting move," said Bob Zupcoe, a Newtown resident and

reformed smoker. "I'd like to see it become a trend."

Although many Drug Center customers support his decision, Mr Bates does not

think he will be a trendsetter. "I'm the only independent in town," he said,

noting that chain pharmacies would need a command from corporate headquarters

to take such a step.