Whitehorse pharmacy to stop selling cigarettes
Last Updated: Thursday, November 27, 2008 | 1:02 PM ET
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Yukon smokers are about to lose a popular supplier of cigarettes: the new owner of a prominent Whitehorse pharmacy says she'll be phasing out all tobacco sales by the end of this year.
Since taking over the Shoppers Drug Mart location on Main Street earlier in November, pharmacist and owner Tracey Keefer said she has been planning to get rid of cigarettes, which are currently for sale there.
"I don't think pharmacies should be selling cigarettes, if you're trying to promote healthiness," Keefer told CBC News, adding that tobacco sales are already banned from pharmacies in some other parts of Canada.
"We don't sell alcohol, we don't sell other … street drugs or anything here, so we're going to get rid of the cigarettes," she added.
"It's kind of hard to sell smoking cessation products when then you're selling the cigarettes in the same place."
The Yukon is the last Canadian jurisdiction to pass anti-smoking legislation, enacting the Smoke-Free Places Act in May.
The act prohibits retailers from displaying tobacco products or advertising in their stores.
Government officials are drafting regulations for the legislation, and hope to have them ready early next year.
Keefer said getting rid of tobacco products altogether should not affect sales at her pharmacy.
There is no word on whether the Shoppers Drug Mart location in the Qwanlin Mall plans to follow Keefer's lead. Pharmacy owner Darrell Pasloski could not be reached for comment.
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