CVS blows off U.S. Chamber over tobacco lobbying

CVS Health is leaving the U.S. Chamber of Commerce following news the organization lobbied governments overseas to weaken restrictions on the sale and use of tobacco products.

According to a recent New York Times report, the national business association has "become the hammer for the tobacco industry, engaging in a worldwide effort to fight antismoking laws of all kinds."

In a statement emailed to The Wall Street Journal, CVS said its "purpose is to help people on their path to better health, and we fundamentally believe tobacco use is in direct conflict with this purpose."

While denying claims it is promoting smoking, the Chamber, via The Associated Press, said its role was to engage in the "principled defense of the rights of companies and the free enterprise system."

CVS Health

Source: www.cvshealth.com

BrainTrust

"Go CVS! Money has bought the Chamber of Commerce just like it has bought Congress. Nice to see people and companies taking a stand! No effect either way on CVS’s business, but a tiny bump up if anything. I’m sure a few others will follow; I hope many do."

Warren Thayer

Editor Emeritus & Co-Founder, Frozen & Refrigerated Buyer


"I would have to approve the move since CVS has made the bold move to stop selling tobacco products. So if one believes that tobacco is harmful to one’s health as CVS does, then any action to promote the industry is in direct conflict with the CVS message."

Frank Riso

Principal, Frank Riso Associates, LLC


"I love this. I am sure they are not really risking or losing anything by doing so (their own lobbyists deliver?) but still, this seems like they are acting out of integrity and character, which I choose to believe and applaud."

Chuck Palmer

Senior Advisor, ConsumerX Retail


Discussion Questions

Do you approve or disapprove of CVS Health’s decision to leave the U.S. Chamber of Commerce? What effect will the move have on CVS’s business? Do you expect other companies to follow the lead of CVS and quit the Chamber?

Poll

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Warren Thayer
Warren Thayer
8 years ago

Go CVS! Money has bought the Chamber of Commerce just like it has bought Congress. Nice to see people and companies taking a stand! No effect either way on CVS’s business, but a tiny bump up if anything. I’m sure a few others will follow; I hope many do.

Roy White
Roy White
8 years ago

Full approval from me. CVS made their decision about tobacco last year, and since they wish to be a comprehensive health programs and products company, ditching tobacco was one of their wisest decisions. CVS is by no means the only company to depart from the U.S. Chamber of Commerce over this issue and likely won’t be the last. The Chamber’s support of tobacco across the board is way beyond excessive and unwarranted.

Ken Lonyai
Ken Lonyai
8 years ago

The decision to leave the chamber surely makes it seem that CVS has a backbone and is standing by its commitments and publicly stated principles. The majority of consumers won’t hear about this news let alone know what the U.S. Chamber of Commerce is, so it’s likely a genuine stance and not a PR stunt. They’ve already broken their relationship with the tobacco industry and it’s not clear what other benefits the Chamber would afford them, so it was a wise move deserving of praise.

As far as I know, CVS Health’s decision to drop tobacco has had little influence on other pharmacies, so severing this relationship is unlikely to influence other companies to do the same.

Frank Riso
Frank Riso
8 years ago

I would have to approve the move since CVS has made the bold move to stop selling tobacco products. So if one believes that tobacco is harmful to one’s health as CVS does, then any action to promote the industry is in direct conflict with the CVS message. They could have ignored the action by the U.S. Chamber of Commerce based on all the other good they do for retail, but they stood their ground and I admire them for doing the right thing.

Ryan Mathews
Ryan Mathews
8 years ago

Approve! Nothing like walking your brand talk!

As to pulling out of the Chamber I don’t think anyone but the media and the Chamber will notice, which is another way of saying there won’t be any negative impact.

As to the last question … um … let’s see … how many other companies have stopped selling tobacco products …

Camille P. Schuster, Ph.D.
Camille P. Schuster, Ph.D.
8 years ago

If CVS tried to get the U.S. Chamber of Commerce to change their actions and if the U.S. Chamber of Commerce is lobbying on behalf of its members, then CVS should leave because their views are not being represented. It will have no impact on their business. Consumers probably do not know and do not care whether or not a company belongs to the U.S. Chamber of Commerce. Other companies have not followed CVS’s lead in discontinuing the sale of tobacco products so probably will not follow CVS’s lead in this instance.

Naomi K. Shapiro
Naomi K. Shapiro
8 years ago

Strongly approve. I’m very impressed and respect the fact that they walk the walk and talk the talk.

As to part two, Ryan Mathews said it: I don’t think anyone but the media and the Chamber will notice, which is another way of saying there won’t be any negative impact.

Hy Louis
Hy Louis
8 years ago

CVS was probably going to leave anyway. They might as well get some PR mileage from it.

Chuck Palmer
Chuck Palmer
8 years ago

I love this. I am sure they are not really risking or losing anything by doing so (their own lobbyists deliver?) but still, this seems like they are acting out of integrity and character, which I choose to believe and applaud.