Community pharmacists and tobacco in Great Britain: from selling cigarettes to smoking cessation services

Aims  To illustrate the ways in which community pharmacists in Great Britain have been able to benefit from a close association with tobacco and smoking from its initial importation to the present time. Design  An analysis of relevant texts and documents, together with brief transcripts from an oral history investigation of community pharmacy in Great Britain. Setting  Community pharmacies in Great Britain during the 20th century. Participants  Retired and practising community pharmacists with experience of the sale of tobacco products during the period. Measurements  Oral testimony of retired and practising community pharmacists about the use and sale of tobacco products, and quantitative analysis of commercially available products designed to help people stop smoking during the period. Findings  Community pharmacists have been involved continuously with the tobacco habit since its first introduction into Britain. During the course of the 20th century the emphasis shifted from the sale of tobacco products to the sale of medicines intended to help people to give up smoking. Smoking cessation initiatives continue to be an important part of the business of many pharmacies. Conclusions  The paper illustrates the continuing tension that exists between pharmacy as business and pharmacy as profession. The sale of tobacco products and, more recently, products to help people give up smoking, has been a small but significant part of the business of many community pharmacists throughout the centuries.