2 + Wedmesdinys Jeuit “1, 1989.~ Derih Shore: News * West Vancouver pharmacy butts out DRUGSTORE PULLS TOBACCO % THE BUTTS are out permanently at Rob Williamson’s Pharmasav> drugstore Village shopping centre. At n’«a. Monday, Williamson cleared’ tis shelves of all tobacco producis’ in response to a recent call ty the Canadian Medical Assoziction (CMA) for consumers to Yoycott drugstores that sell tobacco and tobacco products. “T’ve felt hypocritical for _ Yeus,”? Williamson said Monday, ‘‘zelling health out the back door ‘aad tobacco out the front door.” _’ The Caulfeild store became the ‘second Pharmasave on the North ‘"; Shore to voluntarily discontinue tobacco sales. The Edgemont Village outlet pulled tobacco from its shelves three years ago, ‘‘as a matter of conviction,” said owner John Hooge. Williamson said he hopes his move will encourage other drugstores to foilow suit. “¥'m sure most pharmacists want to do this,’’ he said. Public response to his decision, he added, had been ‘99 per cent positive.” But London Drugs Ltd. vice- president Mark Nussbaum said Monday the chain has no plans to stop selling tobacco products. He called Williamson’s decision ‘‘pure hypocrisy,’’ because the pharmacist had chosen to stop sell- ing only tobacco, not the other products sold by drugstores that are potentially harmful to health. While he said he personally was against the sale of tobacco, Nussbaum said until the govern- ment “‘has the guts to ban the sale of tobacco’? any retailer should have the right to sell it. “Is it right for food stores to sell tobacco, but not right for drugstores to sell it?” he said. “*Where do you draw the line? On- ly the government has the ability to control tobacco sales. It can’t be exercised at the retail level.”’ Nussbaum added that between 28 per cent and 35 per cent of London Drugs customers - still smoked, so the company would continue to provide the product “for those customers. In a May 31 release, the CMA announced that it would encourage the public ‘‘to buy prescription drugs and other health products from drugstores that do not sell tobacco products.”’ The association also plans to conduct a national! pol! on whether tobacco products should be sold in drugstores. CMA president Dr. John O’Brien-Bell stated in the release that “reducing the consumption of tobacco is probably the single most important thing we can do to pre- vent disease and to promote good health. The selling of tobacco, in the opinion of the CMA, is in- compatible with the primary pur- pose and role of the pharmacy. The pharmacist is a respected and trusted health care professional, not a seller of products that, when used precisely as intended by the manufacturer, cause disease and the premature death of over 35,000 Canadians a year.’* He added that tobacco sales in drugstores cloud public apprecia- tion and recognition of smoking’s serious health hazards. Williamson said tobacco con- stituted approximately 12 per cent of his total! sales, ‘‘so it’s going to hurt us for awhile, but we will just have to bite the bullet. At least we will start being a store for health not a hypocritical store." The $13,000 worth of tobacco inventory removed Monday from the Caulfeild store will be sold back to wholesalers, if possible, Williamson said. in West Vancouver’s Caulfeild By TIMOTHY RENSHAW | News Reporter Dave Reston, assistant general manager for Pharmasave Drugs Ltd., said he did not know if other Pharmasave stores would follow Williamson’s lead because all 90 outlets in B.C. are owner-operated and autonomous. But he said Pharmasave, as the marketing arm for the various stores, is opposed to the promo- tion of tobacco. “Our policy is not to advertise tobacco,”’ he said. B.C. Medical Association com- munications manager Leigh Carter said it was ‘‘very encouraging”’ that Williamson’s decision had resulted primarily from the CMA campaign. BUTTS BAGGED...Caulfeild “ee Pharmasave drugstore worker Jady Dobie removes cigarettes Monday Vitiage from the store’s shelves. Ownership of the West Vancouver store decided to stop selling tobacco and tobacco products in response to a call from the Canadian Medical Association for consumes to patronize tobacco-free DISC BRAKE 2-WHEEL SPECIAL For one low price we will: Install new disc pads Repack tiont wheel bearngs - Fload test vetucle and do an 18 pant mamnienance mspection (Additional Parts and labour extra, metathc pads ex- tra.} Woolce dise pads are waranteed On any completed brake special for as tow as you own your car. Drum brake £9.95. Most cars, vans and light rucks. Metallic Pads are extra. Everco Air-Conditioning Service for Most Cars, Vans and Light Trucks Price includes: « Check for leaks Tighten connections * Check and ad- just belts « instal! up to 1 Ib. of refrigerant (it required) * Check opera- tion of control and vents © 18-point maintenance inspection. 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