Morning Briefing
Summaries of health policy coverage from major news organizations
Walgreens Put On Notice By FDA Over Sales Of Tobacco Products To Minors
The Hill: FDA Says Nearly 1,400 Walgreens Stores Sold Tobacco Products To Minors
The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is putting Walgreens on notice over the sales of tobacco products to minors. The FDA said on Thursday that 22 percent of the 6,350 stores it has inspected — or 1,397 locations — sold tobacco products to minors, making Walgreens the top violator among pharmacy chains. (Hellmann, 2/7)
Reuters: U.S. FDA Pulls Up Walgreens For Violating Tobacco Sale Laws By Selling To Minors
Walgreens is currently the top violator among pharmacies that sell tobacco products, with 22 percent of its inspected stores having illegally sold tobacco products to minors, the U.S. health regulator said in a statement. "I will be writing (to) the corporate management of Walgreens and requesting a meeting with them to discuss whether there is a corporate-wide issue related to their stores' non-compliance," FDA Commissioner Scott Gottlieb said. (2/7)
Politico: FDA Blocks Walgreens And Circle K Tobacco Sales
Some pharmacy giants such as CVS have banned tobacco sales entirely, and Walgreens shareholders have increasingly questioned the practice. Walgreens, in a statement, said it was training store employees on tobacco sale requirements and strengthening disciplinary actions against those who violate the policy. The company also said it would welcome a meeting with Gottlieb. (Owermohle, 2/7)
Bloomberg: FDA Targets Walgreens As Biggest Youth Tobacco Sale Violator
Walgreens said it takes the matter “very seriously” and has enacted a number of steps to address the problem, including requiring store clerks to ask anyone purchasing tobacco for identification, regardless of age, and imposing tougher disciplinary actions against employees who don’t follow its policies. “We recognize the seriousness of this issue and welcome the opportunity to meet with the FDA Administrator to discuss all of the steps we are taking,” Walgreens spokesman Jim Cohn said in an emailed statement. (Langreth and Edney, 2/7)
In related news —
The Hill: Arizona Proposal Would Hike Tobacco Tax To Fund College Scholarships
An Arizona state lawmaker has proposed a resolution to hike the tax consumers pay on cigarettes and similar tobacco products in order to fund college scholarships in the state. Arizona state Sen. Heather Carter (R) on Wednesday introduced the proposal that would increase the current $2-a-pack on cigarettes by an additional $1.50, tucson.com reported. (Gstalter, 2/7)
CNN: Juul Ramped Up Nicotine Levels, And Competitors Followed, Study Says
Leading e-cigarette company Juul Labs spurred a "widespread rush" of companies seeking to boost their own nicotine concentrations in order to mirror Juul's success, according to a paper published Thursday in the BMJ journal Tobacco Control. When Juul released its original 5% nicotine pods in the United States in 2015, the majority of competing products came in 1% to 2% concentrations, according to study author Dr. Robert Jackler, founder of Stanford Research into the Impact of Tobacco Advertising. Now, a number of competing brands reach into the 5% to 7% range. (Nedelman and Selig, 2/7)
The CT Mirror: Lawmakers Seek To Curb Youth Access To E-Cigarettes, Tobacco
Connecticut lawmakers are sounding the alarm on teen vaping and tobacco use with a wave of legislation that would impose further restrictions on the products and attempt to curb youth access as states across the country are taking up similar measures. Bills introduced from both sides of the aisle or with bipartisan support include raising the minimum age for buying electronic cigarettes and tobacco products from 18 to 21, banning flavored vapor products, and taxing vapor delivery systems and related goods. (Silber, 2/7)
