Safeway Sues Over Tobacco Ban

SN STAFF

PLEASANTON, Calif. — Safeway here has filed a lawsuit against San Francisco over an ordinance passed last year that bans the sale of tobacco products in stores that have pharmacies, according to reports.

The law was originally passed in 2008 banning tobacco sales in drug stores, but a lawsuit by Walgreen Co. prompted the ban to be extended to supermarkets that contain pharmacies. A lawsuit by cigarette maker Phillip Morris challenging the ban was thrown out, the reports said.

SN previously noted that the ban affects 14 supermarkets in the city, including nine operating by Safeway.

Safeway could not be reached for comment on Friday.