Smokers aren't quitting due to coronavirus
Doctors have warned that people who smoke stand a greater chance of dying if they contract Covid-19. Both the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the World Health Organization have stated that smokers, along with those with diabetes, heart disease, or chronic lung disease, are at greater risk of developing severe complications due to the virus.
But smokers don’t seem to be kicking the habit during the pandemic, despite those increased health risks. In fact, sales of traditional cigarettes have actually picked up. Cigarette volumes grew by 1.1% in the week through March 22, according to investment bank Piper Sandler.
Increased cigarette sales may not be due to increased smoking, exactly: Some of the uptick is likely due to stockpiling. Alcohol sales have seen a similar spike during the pandemic. On a March 18 earnings call, CEO Brian Hannasch of Alimentation Couche-Tard, the parent company of Circle K convenience stores, noted that customers were stocking up on alcohol and cigarettes.
Meanwhile, activity on tobacco store listings on Yelp, including page views and reviews, has increased by 120% since March 1. Tobacco General, an online tobacco store, has warned customers of shipping delays due to “unprecedented demand” because of Covid-19. It’s a similar situation at Smoker’s Outlet Online. And while states like New York have shut down tobacco stores and are even weighing an outright ban, other states have deemed them an essential business. Cigarettes are also readily available at drug stores and grocery stores, both essential businesses.
https://qz.com/1831464/smokers-arent-quitting-due-to-coronavirus/?utm_source=YPL&yptr=yahoo
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