Walgreens Off the 'Naughty' List; Vows to Say 'Christmas'

By Nathan Black, Christian Post Reporter Saturday, November 26, 2011

Walgreens is back on the "Nice" list of companies that recognize, rather than censor, Christmas, according to an announcement this week.

The drugstore chain, which had come under fire for using "holiday" in its promotional campaigns, confirmed that it will be using the word "Christmas" more this season.

"During the month of December, there will be greater use of ‘Christmas’ in our store and online. We completely agree that while others celebrate different holidays, we should use the word ‘Christmas’ to describe items we are selling for Christmas decorations and gifts," Tiffany Washington, a spokesperson for Walgreens, said to Liberty Counsel. "As Christmas draws closer, there will be plenty of messages in our store and online that say 'Merry Christmas.'"

Liberty Counsel produces a "Naughty or Nice List" every year to inform Christians of retailers that do not acknowledge Christmas and to support ones that do. It encourages consumers to also give their "respectful opinion to retailers that pretend it (Christmas) doesn’t exist."

The list is based on research conducted by Liberty Counsel – which is dedicated to advancing religious freedom, the sanctity of life, and the family through pro bono assistance – and reports from consumers.

Companies listed on the Naughty list so far include American Eagle Outfitters ("Naughty" for four years for excluding "Christmas"), Banana Republic, J. Crew Outfitters, Polo Ralph Lauren, and Sprint, among others.

On the longer Nice list this year are former "Naughty" retailers Best Buy, CVS pharmacy and Disney.com, as well as JC Penney, Kohl's, Macy's, Martha Stewart, Neiman Marcus, Target, and Walmart, among others.

With Walgreens now added to the Nice list, Mathew Staver, founder of Liberty Counsel, stated, "I am pleased with Walgreens for joining the growing number of stores that recognize Christmas. We will be monitoring stores and updating our ‘Naughty and Nice List’ to help consumers support stores that support Christmas."