Kudos to Wegman’s Food Markets Inc. for quitting cold turkey! The grocery chain, with 71 stores in five states, announced recently that it would no longer purchase cigarettes and other tobacco products for sale in its stores. Existing stock would be sold until February 10^th.

In a letter to employees, the company’s top executives, Danny Wegman and his daughter, Colleen, recognize “a person’s right to smoke,” but state: “we believe there are few of us who would introduce our children to smoking.”

Smoking parents in Pennsylvania, New York, New Jersey, Virginia, and Maryland who want to quit will have a tobacco-temptation-free place to buy their groceries. At the same time, non-smoking parents who want to give their children a consistent anti-tobacco message will have a tobacco-free place to shop. This could help reduce the likelihood that their children will take up smoking.

Smokers who don’t want to quit will be free to get their fix elsewhere. I’m sure some will fret about the paternalistic nature of the company’s decision. (“Why pick on Marlboros and not Moon Pies?” they may ask. “Obesity is also a problem.”) But it seems to me like this health-promoting decision is completely in keeping with the nature of a company that has been recognized as one of the World’s Most Ethical Companies by Ethisphere Magazine.

Wegman’s is the only grocery chain I know of who has made this remarkable decision. (If you know of another, please let us all know by posting in the ‘comments’ section below.) In fact, the grocery store I shop at most often recently added super-sized cigarette ads right near the entrance. I cringe each time I take my kids there, even though I know exposure to ads is not the only reason why children might begin smoking. So, I’m thrilled to see Wegman’s taking such a strong stance in favor of public health.