Beginning today, CVS stores will stop selling tobacco products.
The company announced in February that it would stop selling the products by October 1st.
It says the sales conflict with the company’s health care mission.
Also, in a move to bolster its image as a health care company, CVS will be changing its corporate name to CVS Health.
CVS has also launched a quit-smoking campaign that it hopes will help smokers quit through education and motivational support.
The American Pharmacists Association called on drugstores to stop selling tobacco in March 2010 and several small, independent chains have done so.
CVS is the first large chain to stop tobacco sales.
CVS, which has 7,700 retail locations, is the second-largest drugstore chain in the USA, behind Walgreens.
