The passage “CVS Vows to Quit Selling Tobacco Products” written by Stephanie Storm shows why CVS stopped selling tobacco products. CVS can earn a lot of money from tobacco products owing to the large smoking population. However, CVS chooses to quit selling cigarettes because they are “health provider” (Paragraph 2, Storm). Dr. Brawley said, “If you’re in the business of promoting health and providing health care, it’s very hypocritical to be selling tobacco products.” Therefore, CVS makes the decision to become a true healthy pharmacy.

In addition, the decision shows CVS’s social responsibility. It can be normal for CVS to continue selling tobaccos since big companies like Wal-Mart and Walgreen are still selling them. Surprisingly, CVS abandons the tobacco business though they will lose part of their incomes. CVS chooses to help building a better society instead of merely taking smokers’ money. As Troyen A. Brennan, the executive vice president and chief medical officer for CVS, said, “What we’re thinking about is if others want to emulate this business decision we’ve made, then over time that will make cigarettes less available—and scientific literature does suggest that a reduction in the availability of cigarettes reduces smoking.” Profits are important for the company, but a sense of social responsibility is more important for the company’s reputation. Companies can be more respectful and well known if they make money based on social morals.

“CVS Vows to Quit Selling Tobacco Products”:

http://www.nytimes.com/2014/02/06/business/cvs-plans-to-end-sales-of-tobacco-products-by-october.html?module=ArrowsNav&contentCollection=Business%20Day&action=keypress&region=FixedLeft&pgtype=article