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N.Y. Ads Urge Grocers to 'Kick Butts' 

In the wake of the recently adopted policy of Wegmans Food Markets and a few other upstate New York grocers not to carry tobacco products, emboldened anti-smoking advocates introduced ads this week urging other supermarket operators in the state to dump cigarettes as well.

Two separate full-page ads ran in major upstate New York state newspapers, one sponsored by the state Department of Health and the other by the Capital District Tobacco-Free Coalition, a group consisting of health groups and medical providers. The ads coincided with Kick Butts Day on April 3, which encourages young people to take action against tobacco use at over 2,000 events across the nation.

The ad from the Capital District Tobacco-Free Coalition noted that Wegmans and two smaller grocers in the state, DeCicco Family Markets of Yonkers and Budwey's of Buffalo, have instituted no-tobacco policies; and asked, "When will area supermarkets put health before profits by kicking butts?"

The ad from the Health Department showed images of wholesome food found in supermarkets, with a pile of cigarettes in the center, and posed the question, "Which item doesn't belong?"

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