Statement by Dr. Kelly Henning on CVS Health’s Announcement on the Impacts of its Tobacco Sale Ban
In response to CVS Health’s Announcement about the Impacts of its Tobacco Sale Ban, Bloomberg Philanthropies’ Public Health program lead, Dr. Kelly Henning, released the following statement:
“Bloomberg Philanthropies commends CVS Health for taking the bold move to end tobacco sales and use data to evaluate the effects of that decision. As a metrics-driven foundation, we believe data is vital to help identify, address and help overcome public health challenges. The data released by CVS, including information on how its move to end tobacco sales reduced purchases statewide, demonstrates that when private companies take action against tobacco, they have the potential to impact the broader public in a positive way. This year, as the United Nations makes tobacco reduction part of its Sustainability Development Goals, this is one more step forward towards reducing the global use of tobacco – and a true example of corporate social responsibility.”
About Bloomberg Philanthropies’ Tobacco Control Program:
The tobacco epidemic is killing more than six million people every year, mostly in developing countries. If left unchecked, tobacco use will kill more than one billion people this century. The Bloomberg Initiative to Reduce Tobacco Use is a $600 million initiative, working to implement proven tobacco control policies around the world. As a result, we are effectively curbing tobacco use and helping to protect against the harmful effects of tobacco. The initiative supports prevention policies and works to increase awareness of the dangers of tobacco use in low and middle-income countries. The Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids (CTFK), Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Foundation (CDCF), International Union against Tuberculosis and Lung Disease (IUATLD), Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health (JHSPH), World Health Organization (WHO), and World Lung Foundation are all partners in the Bloomberg Initiative to Reduce Tobacco Use. In 2015, Bloomberg Philanthropies and The Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation launched the Anti-Tobacco Litigation fund to combat the tobacco industry’s use of international trade agreements to threaten and prevent countries from passing strong tobacco-control laws.