>> my name is patricia mcdan ald and i am a researcher at the university of california san francisco and my research explores voluntary decisions by retailers to discontinue tobacco sales, in california and elsewhere, independent pharmacies were among the first to give up tobacco, they were followed by local grocery store chains in the bay area, there are at least four grocery store chains that have stopped selling tobacco in the past ten years. in my research? california, grocery store owners said that they stopped selling tobacco for hel and this business related reasons, including a family history of tobacco caused death and disease, a declining tobacco sales, tobacco license requirements, or attempts by minors to purchase tobacco, not selling tobacco was a way to avoid the hassles associated with tobacco sales, and a way to avoid selling a deadly product. and there were a few complaints from the customers after the retailers stopped selling tobacco and in fact, some smokers were trafrngful because they thought that it would be easier to quit smoke and non-smokers were pleased bec