A Survey of Pharmacists' Opinions and Practices Related to Sale of Cigarettes and Alcohol

Abstract

Abstract Opinions that pharmacists hold and their practices concerning sale of cigarettes and alcohol are of interest to health experts. This study was designed to investigate opinions and practices of a sample of pharmacists regarding sale of cigarettes and alcohol. A structured survey questionnaire was designed and reviewed by a jury of experts and subsequently administered to half of the 1,400 pharmacies and drugstores in one U.S. state. Collected data were analyzed by using descriptive statistical methods and the chi-square test. Findings reveal that 71 percent of responding pharmacists sell cigarettes in their stores. Fifty-five percent of pharmacists, however, believe that pharmacies and drugstores should not sell cigarettes. About 35 percent of the stores surveyed sell alcoholic beverages. A majority of pharmacists believe they should not sell alcoholic beverages. There were significant relationships between pharmacists' opinions and their actual practices in sale of cigarettes and other tobacco products. Whether the pharmacist also is owner/manager of the store has a statistically significant impact on sale of alcohol, but not on cigarettes. Although study results reveal that a majority of pharmacists are opposed to sale of cigarettes and alcohol, the majority of stores currently sell both alcohol and cigarettes.