On February 5, 2014 CVS made headline news by announcing that they would stop selling cigarettes and other tobacco products at its more than 7,600 retail pharmacies by October 1. CVS will be the first chain of national pharmacies to take tobacco products off of its shelves but it might not be the only company to make this very impactful change. Walgreens one of CVS’ main competitors has said that it has been evaluating its sale of tobacco products “for some time” and will continue to only observe for the time being.

This change could have a negative impact on sales for CVS who estimates that it will take an annual loss of $2 billion from tobacco shoppers. However, this is very small amount compared to the total revenue that CVS makes annually. In 2012 CVS reported $123.1 billion in revenue and in the first nine months of 2013 CVS reported around $94 billion in revenue. This drastic move by one of the largest retail pharmacies is backed by Larry J. Merlo the president and CEO of CVS who feel that the sale of tobacco products in inconsistent with the purpose of CVS.

“Ending the sale of cigarettes and tobacco products at CVS/pharmacy is the right thing for us to do for our customers and our company to help people on their path to better health,” Merlo said in a statement.

Many prominent figures including President Obama and various health-orieneted organizations praised CVS for making the change.

“As one of the largest retailers and pharmacies in America, CVS Caremark sets a powerful example, and today’s decision will help advance my administration’s efforts to reduce tobacco-related deaths, cancer, and heart disease, as well as bring down health care costs — ultimately saving lives and protecting untold numbers of families from pain and heartbreak for years to come,” Obama said in a statement Wednesday.

“This is an important, bold public health decision by a major retail pharmacy to act on the long understood reality that blending providing health care and providing cigarettes just doesn’t match,” said Dr. Richard Wender, chief cancer control officer at the American Cancer Society.

“We need an all-hands-on-deck effort to take tobacco products out of the hands of America’s young generation, and to help those who are addicted to quit,” Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius said in a statement. “Today’s CVS Caremark announcement helps bring our country closer to achieving a tobacco-free generation. I hope others will follow their lead.”

CVS’ move to ban tobacco products is one that many anti-smoking advocates hope will create a domino effect among other similar companies.