10 Reasons Retailers Should Be Tobacco-Free

Over the past few months, I’ve had the opportunity to be a part of the Tobacco-Free Kids Network. I’ve really loved learning more about Tobacco-Free Retailers, keeping our kids Tobacco-Free and sharing what I learn on my blog and social media channels.

One of my favorite local stores to shop at is CVS. I love the ExtraBucks I earn, the friendliness of the team and now the fact that it is a Tobacco-Free Retailer. I remember going in one day to purchase some makeup and other items and realized when I walked up to the register that there were no longer any cigarettes behind the counter. It was definitely something that was very noticeable…in a positive way! Shortly after that, I was invited to be a part of the Tobacco-Free Kids Campaign and gladly accepted it.

As a blogger working with the Tobacco-Free Kids Campaign, I’ve learned some helpful information regarding tobacco, as well as why retailers should go tobacco-free. Here are 10 Reasons Retailers Should Be Tobacco-Free and why Consumers Should Shop Tobacco-Free:

1 – Tobacco use kills 480,000 Americans every year – more than 1,300 people every day.

2 – Tobacco use costs our country at least $289 billion a year in health care bills and lost productivity.

3 – Smoking kills more people than alcohol, AIDS, car accidents, illegal drugs, murders and suicides combined.

4 – Smoking harms nearly every organ in the human body and causes about one-third of all deaths from cancer and heart disease, as well as 80 percent of deaths from chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (such as emphysema).

5 – 90 percent of all adult smokers began at or before age 18. 

6 – 5.6 million children alive today will die prematurely from smoking unless current trends are reversed.

7 – Every day, more than 2,800 U.S. kids try their first cigarette – that’s more than one million kids who take their first puff each year.

8 – An estimated 375,000 retail stores sell tobacco products in the U.S. The widespread availability of tobacco products sends a terrible message to kids that tobacco use is normal, acceptable and appealing.

9 – Tobacco companies spend over 90 percent of their annual $8.8 billion marketing budget at the point-of-sale in stores, and marketing has been shown to increase youth tobacco use. By ending tobacco sales, retailers can help reduce kids’ exposure to harmful tobacco marketing.

10 – Exposure to tobacco products and marketing in stores has been shown to encourage youth use of tobacco products and undermine smokers’ attempts to quit by prompting impulse purchases. 

With tobacco use being the nation’s number one preventable cause of death and the vast majority of smokers starting as kids, I give props to the Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids and am happy to have participated in it and spread the word as a blogger and social media influencer! I think the Mission of the Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids is an awesome one!

The Tobacco-Free Retailer campaign challenges America’s retailers to help save lives and create a tobacco-free generation by ending the sale of tobacco products. Responsible retailers across the country – from independently-owned stores to major corporations like CVS, Wegmans and Target – now recognize that selling those deadly products sends the wrong message to kids and damages the overall health of their customers and communities. The Tobacco-Free Retailer Campaign highlights and supports retailers that do not sell tobacco products and encourages other retailers to join them. By making it easy to find tobacco-free retailers nearest you, it will empower consumers to shop tobacco-free and steer their business to retailers who reject the death and disease caused by tobacco.

Please join us in making the next generation tobacco-free!

This is a sponsored post. All opinions are mine.