Since the University of Montana introduced its campus tobacco ban last year, the University Center Market has lost $27,000 in profit. The store faces a tighter budget, a reduced number of employees and raised prices, said Bryan Thornton, the UC Market and Bookstore general manager. Jon Aliri, acting general manager of the University Bookstore, said the ban is not entirely responsible for price increases, which have been caused by a number of different factors, including the recent economic downturn. “People are making their own lunches now, faculty and students,” Aliri said. “There is more of an incentive to save.”
On top of raising prices, the store is in conversation with the UC on lowering its rent, Thornton said. “Everybody on campus depends on money,” Thornton said. “One entity adjusts, and adjustments are then made somewhere else. So if the UC reduces the rent, that has to be passed on somewhere.” Aliri said the Bookstore and the Market pay a joint lease of $381,000, of which the Market pays $40,000 a year. The profit from tobacco once paid a majority of the Market’s share of the lease. As long as the smoking ban benefits the students, Aliri said he doesn’t mind the loss. “Our mission statement is to enhance the life of the students,” Aliri said.
“To us, it’s a little bit easier to cope when we know it’s for students. We are an intricate part of the campus community, and we will support and continue to support any policy of the University’s.” The Market is a nonprofit organization and sells most things at a lower price than conventional stores. Cigarettes were never sold at a lower cost. Curry Health Services Health Promotions Specialist Brent Hildebrand said he’s seen a drop in smoking around campus since the ban. “I mean, you are less likely to be walking behind a smoker walking to class,” Hildebrand said.
“We still need to discuss more in the future about actual enforcement of the policy. It’s difficult because we don’t want to single people out.” Since the ban, there has been a drop in the number of people who visit Curry Health Center to seek help quitting smoking, Hildebrand said. Hildebrand attributes the drop to the removal of smoking signs where Curry put up information about Quit Kits, a program to help students quit smoking or chewing tobacco.
To give people more information about Quit Kits, Curry Health Center is passing out flyers about where to find the kits. Free drink coupons to the Market are included with the flyers. Assistant manager Tyler Swank said he was more then happy to help when Hildebrand approached him. “When they contacted me, I was willing,” Swank said. “It’s an incentive to stop smoking on campus, a positive approach.” Swank provided the coupons free of charge.
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