Reader comments
Provo store drops alcohol, smokes

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TrueBlue | 12:54 a.m. Sept. 22, 2007

Thank you Mr. Ream. People can just go elsewhere.
But I hope you get more business for making this stand.

up late | 1:06 a.m. Sept. 22, 2007

Congratulations to Mr. Ream for taking an ethical stand!!! Very few have the moral courage to lose money and simply be a good neighbor through their business practices. Whatever your beliefs, it really does make a lot of sense to avoid distribution of products that are known to destroy lives and families. Contrast this story to the Marriott hotels who now make a good portion of their profit by selling pornography. Thank you, thank you, Mr. Ream!

Aragon | 2:24 a.m. Sept. 22, 2007

I will patronize the store and tell all my family, friends, and neighbors to do the same. Way to go Ream's Family Food...

Comments continue below

Denise | 3:57 a.m. Sept. 22, 2007

And thank you to the DARE program for teaching the truth about these products.

Happycustomer | 5:04 a.m. Sept. 22, 2007

Dear Reams,
I will now make it a practice to shop those stores who put their money where their mouth is. I think it will improve your business. It certainly will keep the shop-lifters out more. It's alwazs been a mystery to me why store owners sell substances that are harmful to their customers, even if it is a money making substance.

ABlairS | 5:39 a.m. Sept. 22, 2007

I do not live in Provo, but will ask my son to shop only at your Reams from now on; and when I am visiting, yours will be the only store where I will buy groceries. Thank you Mr. Ream!

Heather in WI | 6:44 a.m. Sept. 22, 2007

Way to go Mr. Ream and his daughter! It's encouraging to see people act with integrity, even when it's hard to do. Thanks for your example.

Let's support family-friendly... | 7:12 a.m. Sept. 22, 2007

This is a good story about our need to support family-friendly stores. As a resident of American Fork, we make it a practice to frequent businesses that share our values. Reams is not located closely, but I shop at nearly Macy's or Kohlers which is closed on Sunday. I appreciate knowing that as my children age, there are businesses they can still work at without having to work on Sunday. My son worked at Kohlers. We rent videos at Sunrise Video which doesn't have R-rated movies. Unlike Hollywood or Blockbuster, I can walk past the aisles with my family in search of a video without feeling too uncomfortable. If we can't should support these local store owners in Utah Counnty who struggle to survive, share our values, and who are competing against large, profitable national chains, then who will?

Jean | 7:37 a.m. Sept. 22, 2007

Hearing this story made my day! 'Proud' of you doesn't do justice to my feelings. If only gas stations would also drop alcohol from it's sales, think of the lives it would save in drinking and driving. The money made on drugs cannot compare to the misery it creates and certainly the cost to the family is too great.

SAL SODA | 7:41 a.m. Sept. 22, 2007

Your decision was bold. If your store was in my area I would shop there to support your decision to limit distribution of these dangerous products. Smoking is universally bad. The only winners in this industry are the makers of the smoking and chewing products. The only way these companies may stay in business is to capture young people with new addiction. Very few start to smoke or chew after the age of 25. Responsible adults may purchase adult beverages at other places than a family grocery store. Thanks for following the advice of a wise daughter. Sal

A mother | 8:01 a.m. Sept. 22, 2007

Mr. Ream, you are to be congratulated!! I am thrilled that you have done this. It is wonderful to know that there are still business owners who do the right thing. You will be blessed for doing this. Thank you for protecting our community's young.

MK | 8:02 a.m. Sept. 22, 2007

This is wonderful. I wish every store and place of business took this kind of stand.Yes, it is a persons own choice to damage and destroy their lives and those around them by consuming and using these products.But to have some one stand up and say that they will not be part of that process is great.I applaud this store for having the moral courage to tell people " yes, you can be an idiot, But I won't help you with it."

From AZ | 8:14 a.m. Sept. 22, 2007

Now if we could get others to follow. I would support them 100% here in AZ. I would be your next customer if I lived there. But I will encourage my BYU Sr. daughter and her roomates who lives there to shop there even if it means driving more and using dads gas.
Thanks for taking the lead and following your 9 year olds request. Glad there are some that will do what is right and not what is politically correct or all about money. I think others will now shop there more as well.

THANK YOU

Herb | 8:37 a.m. Sept. 22, 2007

That sure is good new's Now if you don't
fly up to Lander, Wyoming to visit Mrs Jensen
you will be in clover....

Sam Hofer | 8:38 a.m. Sept. 22, 2007

Is this 'taking a stand' or caving in? Of course the mormons love it, this place is singin' their tune.
Taking a stand in that environment would be to expand the beer and smokes section. Sounds like he needs more secuity, though, because the mormon kids figured out how to swipe the stuff.

Robert Johnson | 8:50 a.m. Sept. 22, 2007

This is nothing more than a publicity stunt. Those of you who commented on how is should be congratulated for taking a stand should be asking yourselves: "If Mr. Ream is so "ethical" why just this one store?" He is continuing to sell in all his other stores, so I guess his "ethics" are somewhat limited.
I believe that it should be up to the individual, not the government or private entrepreuners, to censor themselves. However, don't give undue credit where it isn't due.

Gutsy | 8:56 a.m. Sept. 22, 2007

I agree with TrueBlue & up late. This decision may not be popular and will result in a drop in revenue (at least initially) but it is a step in the right direction. Far too many people compromise their beliefs in order to make a few extra bucks or save a few extra pennies. One of the most popular dishonest practices of which I'm aware is the illegal copying of music. Almost everyone I know has copies of music that they never purchased. They borrow a friend's MP3 player, copy all of the songs, and return the player to their friend. It is just like shoplifting and everyone that is doing it is a thief! If my comment is read by very many, surely it will become an open can of worms. I can already hear the justification galore, but in the end it is wrong no matter how you look at it!

arc | 9:27 a.m. Sept. 22, 2007

Robert Johnson, I totally disagree with your comments. The closest stores to my house, not in Utah County, are Smith's. They sell beer and cigarettes, and are open Sundays. That is where I go. I wish they weren't but I haven't decided to drive somewhere else. I do think this guy has gutts, and I for one think he deserves praise.

Giving Due | 9:35 a.m. Sept. 22, 2007

As sited in the article... the other two Reams locations, Springville and Center Street Provo, are independantly owned and therefore are making their own decisions, good or bad. I congratulate Mr. Reams in his decision to follow the advice of his daughter. The irony comes into play when we see that it was the DARE program, sponsered by the state, which initiated this girl's question, which resulted in a private business man deciding to do something about it. I wish more people would DARE to do something about it.

Independant thinker | 9:39 a.m. Sept. 22, 2007

This man was in an ethical delemma. It's ovbious this had little to do with his religious beliefs because his daughter had been taught for years that her family had committed not to take those things into their bodies. Others however had not made such a committment, hence there was no dilemma to sell these products.

When the dilemma accured is when the police at his daughters school taught the kids about the harmful effects these drugs have on individuals and families that this man chose to stop selling these drugs.

I think of the tragic stories of mother or entire families being killed by drunk drivers, jobs lost, or marriges broken due to alcohol abuse. When hearing these stories it would be horrendous to wonder if you were the one who sold them such products.

This has nothing to do with religon. I don't condemn others who sell alcohol or cigarrets. I do however praise this man who made a dumb buisness decision but a great decision as a father.

Katy | 10:03 a.m. Sept. 22, 2007

Mr. Johnson,
Read the article again. Mr. Ream only owns the one store. The other two are owned by other people.

gayBYUfan | 10:07 a.m. Sept. 22, 2007

i appreciate the stand that this store-owner is taking. he is certainly doing the right thing, and the community wil be blessed. if i lived in utah, and not new york city, i would frequent his store. i agree with his ethics.

bddefense | 10:25 a.m. Sept. 22, 2007

So what. Who cares? What difference will it make to his community?

I'm not sure why this is even a story in the paper.

Now if the guy said "I'm going to donate all my profits from selling beer and tobacco to drug education and prevention programs" then I'd actually praise the guy.

But his action to not sell beer and tobacco at his story - it will have zero effect on anyone... well, I guess his daughter will feel better about it.

Mr. . Spuds | 10:30 a.m. Sept. 22, 2007

Doughnuts can kill too. Are they coming off the shelves anytime soon?

Lyn | 10:33 a.m. Sept. 22, 2007

Thank heavens for responsible parenting! If only more business owners thought of their children when they hand over a pack of cigarettes or six pack of beer. Children pay attention -- and they are the ones those cigarette and beer companies are selling to.

88 Aggie | 10:36 a.m. Sept. 22, 2007

Man, am I glad I don't live in Utah anymore.

Ken | 10:37 a.m. Sept. 22, 2007

I dont live in Utah, and am not very Familiar with the Provo area, so I may be wrong in my assumptions, but the article appeared to be saying that Mr. Ream owned the one store that the article was written about, and that the other Reams stores in the area are also independantly owned. I think the point of the article was to show the financial risk that this one small businessman took to show his daughter that he is willing to practice what he preaches, I dont believe there to be any ulterior motives at work here.

John | 10:46 a.m. Sept. 22, 2007

It's sure easy to tell from the comments who is addicted to these drugs and who isn't. The comments are all self serving for each side of the question, but I think the comments from the surgeon general and other medical authorities over the years would favor although not legislate, the removal of these products from every retail outlet.

To bddefense | 10:47 a.m. Sept. 22, 2007

What kind of logic is that? I'd praise someone who sells drugs as long as the profit is used to teach people about drug prevention???? Completely flawed logic. The best thing one can do is cut off the source of drugs. If someone has to drive a little further to buy that pack of cigarrettes, perhaps once in a while they will decide not to buy a pack. It's a step in the healthy direction.
As for spuds.... get real, tobacco causes cancer and it doesn't matter if you exercise or not, the damage will be done if you smoke. If I eat a doughnut, I can go run a mile and walla, no damage is done. Your argument is about as stupid as saying we should ban water because if you drink 3 gallons in one hour it can kill you.

Carol | 10:53 a.m. Sept. 22, 2007

You know, this man might as well do what is right for him. There are those that agree, those that ridicule, those that are sarcastic. It is his store. He can make those choices. And I do not know that just "mormon" kids were swiping the beer. Frankly I did not see any thing relating to religion in the article. Simply a store owner who made a decision.

But the naysayers have to make their sarcasm known.

And of course we all know only a "Mormon" would consider closing a store on Sunday. Not! One company, Hobby Lobby- has owners that close their stores at 6 pm on Saturday evening to open again Monday morning, so their employees can spend time with family, and church on Sunday if they so desire. Which is posted in a large sign on their doors.

Gutsy Hater | 10:53 a.m. Sept. 22, 2007

There is nothing dishonest about burning a copy of my friend's music. It's just like borrowing it. Should we ban libraries because everyone is enjoying one copy of the same book?

Once again... | 11:06 a.m. Sept. 22, 2007

Once again....Religion rules the day here in Utah!

mcdoc | 11:35 a.m. Sept. 22, 2007

Good job Sir! Great precedent. If the store made $5000/week on the stuff would you have made the same decision? I certainly hope so!

I am waiting for Marriott Chain hotels to drop the Adult Movie channel!!

Good job! It can start just like this.

Up and Down | 12:00 p.m. Sept. 22, 2007

As a drinker, I commend this man in managing his business consistently with his beliefs. That's not often found.

Light of Reason | 12:02 p.m. Sept. 22, 2007

Everyone has the right to choose whether to take substances that are clearly harmful to the body. However Mr. Spuds eating doughnuts while they may add weight to your body they don't make you drive drunk on the highway. My grandmother,aunt, and uncle were killed by a teenager drunk as a skunk going 100 miles an hour and he swiped the beer off the shelves at a local store. And for you bddefense your contradictory statement of donating profits from the selling of beer and tobacco is ludicrous ..did you finish the third grade? Thanks Mr. Ream for taking a stand..the kids who steal will have to steal their contraband somewhere else..it's their choice and they will have to live with the consequences.

Cleetorn | 12:46 p.m. Sept. 22, 2007

The religious-right may sing their praises while the bleeding liberals will point fingers and cry "foul!" The fact remains that this move was inspired by principles presented by the D.A.R.E. organization, an INTERNATIONAL education program. It is completely non-denominational and not tied to any local entity promoting its own agenda. To accuse/credit Mr. Ream for anything outside of that realm is irresponsible and self-serving.

s | 12:54 p.m. Sept. 22, 2007

to: once again...
The Dare program is not a religious entity, just an inciteful one.

Eric | 12:58 p.m. Sept. 22, 2007

Utah is one weird,weird place.

s | 1:00 p.m. Sept. 22, 2007

to: Once Again....
The DARE Program is not a religious entity, just an inciteful one.

Josh Ho | 1:29 p.m. Sept. 22, 2007

All of you that hate the sale and consumption of alcohol & tobacco should realize that are roads you drive are paved with and the goverment officials you elect are paid with hundreds of millions tax dollars from these products.

Anonymous | 3:12 p.m. Sept. 22, 2007

Good for Mr. Ream! I would be very opposed if the State Government were to ban the sale of Drugs in all stores, but yet AGAIN the private market has shown that it is capable of curving vice without restricting freedom. This is a good day for capitalism, and a good day for Reams. Its also a good day for those who Smoke and Drink because they know that some people will always chose to oppose their right but as long as the government protects it and business are allowed the right to "choose" to sell those products- both parties win.

To Josh Ho | 3:36 p.m. Sept. 22, 2007

You have got to be kidding me..... Josh Ho & bddefense must be the same person. Let's just make cocaine legal and put a really high tax on it. We can use the money to hire more drug enforcement officers. Better yet, if we make murder legal, but tax it at $1 million per occurence, we can use the revenue to fight terrorism. How many birth defects do alcohol & tobacco cause? How many people are killed annually due to someone driving under the influence? How many children are abused because the perpetrator was under the influence? How many people suffer & die from cancer or liver problems because of these substances? Bottom line is the more difficult it is to purchase these items, the less they will be used.

Langers in Layton | 4:05 p.m. Sept. 22, 2007

"Total alcohol sales were $1,500 a month."

That's 100 12-packs of Heineken. Maybe 200 12-packs of Nati Lite. Let's be generous and call it four cases of his cheapest beer a day. Mr. Ream must be anxiously figuring out how his family is going to survive on Top Ramen now that he's given up such a wealth of profits.

The free market has spoken and that's great. No problem with that at all. But how is this anything other than a feel good story pandering to a receptive audience?

Rob | 4:13 p.m. Sept. 22, 2007

Great, now how about getting rid of the coffee and tea too.

And, while youï¿½re at it, Iï¿½d like to see meat only sold in the winter time. Or at least have someone at the check-outs monitoring that one person doesnï¿½t buy too much.

AFomfsCoug | 4:40 p.m. Sept. 22, 2007

All one has to do is see what percent of needless trauma to the offender and the innocent occurs because of alcohol. If we could see all the lives damaged because of it. I can't tell you how needless it is to fix people in the emergency room because of alcohol related issues. It is by far the majority. Then the people I see with cancer who smoke. I wish that these industries were held more responsible for these addictive substances. It is all about $$$$ and creating recurring users that makes these industries wealthy beyond imagine and their customers (many hooked as youth) at much higher risk for life changing problems.... I laud Mr. Ream for his decision. Treating patients daily who are victims of these vices, I would never feel good being the middle man for this stuff if I had a shop. I think they should tax this stuff to death to try to help pay the expenses that it costs to society.

huh | 5:11 p.m. Sept. 22, 2007

I have several points to make

1) Not newsworthy.
2) Comments saying things like "its obvious from the comments who is addicted to these products", "these products destroy families", and other close minded inflammitory remarks are the reason why there is such tension between judgemental religious fanatics and good hearted Americans who believe in personal freedom.
3) Alcohol does not "make a person drive under the influence", any more than owning a gun makes you shoot somebody. Driving under the influence is a crime that a person makes a concious decision to do.
4) Nobody is really mad at this guy for choosing not to sell these things. He is certainly free to do so. However, it's pretty hypocritical to defend this guy's freedom to do so, while at the same time condeming other business's rights to sell them and consumer's rights to buy them.
5) Selling beer at a gas station doesn't promote, encourage, or contribute to drinking and driving.
6) Drinking or smoking doesn't make you a bad person. Being hateful and judgemental against those that do does make you a bad person.

me | 5:36 p.m. Sept. 22, 2007

I know you will be blessed by the Lord and chances are your sales will increase in your other goods !!

Darrylrg | 7:08 p.m. Sept. 22, 2007

Robert, Robert, Robert I am amazed that you have a hard time reading a simple story, which clearly states he only owns that one store. The others are owned by other people. Please read stories clearly and concisely and with an open mind before you make silly comments that show your lack of comprehension. What a good story and you and Sam Hofer have to make it a negative event. Your lives must be focused on negativity

88 Aggie. So are we that you don't live here anymore.

I had wondered how long it would take for people to read into this article religion and their own closed minded bias. It sure didn't take long.

LOL | 7:09 p.m. Sept. 22, 2007

It is interesting to see the opinions here. I get a laugh out of the ones who are upset about the store not selling beer or smokes. Interesting how they twist their hate of non-drinkers and non-smokers into a freedom issue.

Gripers....Geeeeezzz!!! | 7:23 p.m. Sept. 22, 2007

The one store is own by Mr. Reams, and he can darn do whatever he wants with it. For those of you who are offended or disagreed with his rightful decision, just go elsewhere.

I may not be LDS but I applauded Mr. Reams's gutsy decision.

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2 photos

Scott G. Winterton, Deseret News

Ream's Family Foods employee Hyrum Oaks carries a box of cigarettes Thursday in Provo. Other Ream's stores will continue to carry alcohol and tobacco.

Gallery (2 photos)