Reginald Tucker-Seeley’s study looked at how this affected access to tobacco in CVS’s home state of Rhode Island.
“While the policy may have reduced the overall number of tobacco outlets—which is commendable—it appears this policy does not to have much impact on reducing racial, ethnic, and socioeconomic disparities in the density of tobacco retailers across neighborhoods in RI. It is important to note that the CVS Health policy to end their sale of tobacco products was NOT put forth as a policy to reduce health disparities; nevertheless, I think it is always important to take note when health policy has overall population health improvements goals (for example the reduction of the overall number of tobacco outlets) that the potential differential impacts across socioeconomic and racial/ethnic groups is also explored.”
-Reggie Tucker-Seeley
