[Public Papers of the Presidents of the United States: William J. Clinton (1996, Book II)]
[July 10, 1996]
[Page 1113]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office www.gpo.gov]



Statement on A&P Stores' Decision To Remove Cigarette Vending Machines
July 10, 1996

    Every year hundreds of millions of packs of cigarettes are bought by 
children and adolescents. In a 1995 survey, more than 90 percent of 10th 
graders said it was ``fairly easy'' or ``very easy'' to obtain 
cigarettes. That is why my administration has proposed measures to 
reduce significantly the unlawful sale of tobacco products to young 
people.
    I am pleased to commend the American business leaders who have also 
stepped up to the plate to tackle this problem. Today Mr. James Wood, 
chairman and CEO of A&P, and the A&P board of directors have announced 
that they will remove all cigarette vending machines from their stores 
by the end of this month. In doing so, they have responded to the 
challenge and taken responsibility for a problem everyone--parents, 
teachers, corporate leaders, community leaders, and clergy--must 
overcome together.
    If more business leaders such as Mr. Wood and companies such as A&P 
took this type of decisive action and worked together with government, I 
am confident that we would achieve dramatic success on our efforts to 
keep cigarettes out of the hands of our children.