Which area supermarket will be the first to Kick Butts?

Wegmans—a Rochester-based supermarket chain-- has already kicked butts. They no longer sell tobacco products.  DeCicco's and Budwey's---two other New York-based markets--- decided to stop selling tobacco, too.

Our local supermarkets pride themselves on supporting families and community health. Yet they sell tobacco products that, even when used in moderation, will kill 1 out of 2 people who smoke.
 
When will area supermarkets put health before profits by kicking butts?

Area and statewide organizations signed on to this full-page ad
in the Daily Gazette and Times Union on April 2, 2008, Kick Butts Day, calling on area supermarkets to follow the lead of other New York State grocery chains and end the sale of tobacco products.

For Kick Butts Day, State Health Commissioner Urges Supermarkets to Kick Tobacco
In this full-page ad in major upstate newspapers, Commissioner Daines appealed to stores to discontinue the advertising and sale of tobacco products, adding to the pressure on local stores to follow the lead of other NYS chains.

You Can Help Get Tobacco Out of
Our Community's Grocery Stores!

Since the beginning of the year, three grocery chains in New York - Wegmans, DeCicco's Market, and Budwey's - decided to stop selling cigarettes. This is great news!  Reducing the availability and promotion of cigarettes will help some smokers finally quit, it will discourage kids from starting to smoke, and it improves the public image of the store as a community-minded, family-friendly business. 

Now we can help Price Chopper make the decision to kick cigarettes to the curb here in the Capital District. Price Chopper, our local grocery industry leader, should stop selling cigarettes for three great reasons:

• Help smokers quit
• Keep kids from starting to smoke
• Improve public image

Call, Write or Email Supermarkets with YOUR Personalized Message

Contact Grand Union Family Markets

Contact Hannaford Bros. Co. (temporarily deactivated due to the store's recent security problems)

Contact Price Chopper

Here is a Sample Letter to Grocers for your consideration.

Sign a Petition to End the Sale of Tobacco Products in Supermarkets

Sign a Petition to Stop Retail Advertising to Kids

Together we can make a difference!

Here's what's been happening in other parts of New York State. . .

• Wegmans leads NYS in stopping sale of tobacco products.
  One of New York's leading supermarkets pulled tobacco products off its shelves as of 2/10. Send an email to Wegman's saying "Thanks." For more info, see news story.
  
  
• Another NY Grocery Chain Stops Tobacco Sales
  DeCicco Markets wants to promote better health. More. . .
  
  
• Budwey’s Supermarket
  is the latest chain of grocery retailers to stub out tobacco sales. More. . .

Contact Us

Your voice matters and you have a right to be heard. If you spot an area retailer engaging in a practice that concerns you or you’d like to share a success story you’ve had with a retailer near you, let us know. Email contact @ smokefreecapital.org. Together, we can build an even stronger community in which we can all breathe free.

Join Our E-mail Action Team

Sign a Petition to End the Sale of        Tobacco Products in Supermarkets

Sign a Petition to Stop Retail       Advertising to Kids

Contact Your Legislators

Learn More About the Effect of Point-       of-Purchase Advertising on Teens

If you are a retail store owner, take action and reduce, rearrange or eliminate YOUR tobacco advertising. And be sure to let us know if you do.