Tobacco and alcohol sales in community pharmacies: policy statements from U.S. professional pharmacy associations.
OBJECTIVE
To characterize the extent to which state and national professional pharmacy associations have implemented formal policies addressing the sale of tobacco and alcohol products in community pharmacies.


METHODS
To determine existence of tobacco and alcohol policies, national professional pharmacy associations (n = 10) and state-level pharmacy associations (n = 86) affiliated with the American Pharmacists Association (APhA) and/or the American Society of Health-System Pharmacists (ASHP) were contacted via telephone and/or e-mail, and a search of the association websites was conducted.


RESULTS
Of 95 responding associations (99%), 14% have a formal policy opposing the sale of tobacco products in pharmacies and 5% have a formal policy opposing the sale of alcohol in pharmacies. Of the associations representing major tobacco-producing states, 40% have a formal policy against tobacco sales in pharmacies, significantly more than the 8% of non-tobacco state associations with such policies.


CONCLUSIONS
Among national professional pharmacy associations, only APhA and ASHP have formal policy statements opposing the sale of both tobacco and alcohol in pharmacies. Most state-level professional pharmacy associations affiliated with these two national organizations have no formal policy statement or position.
Robin L
RL
Corelli
Tiffany
T
Chai
Alda
A
Karic
Melinda
M
Fairman
Karina
K
Baez
Karen Suchanek
KS
Hudmon
D006801:Humans; D000438:Alcohols / Q000009:adverse effects; D001244:Association; D003157:Community Pharmacy Services / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006291:Health Policy; D010594:Pharmacies / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence; D014481:United States; D062789:Tobacco Products
D000438:Alcohols