Tobacco products are always in the spotlight when it comes to regulations and laws, so it makes sense that people often ask about their availability in large grocery stores such as Aldi.
Many stores have opened up to the idea of selling tobacco products with some even allowing deliveries, although with the right amount of steps to make sure the product is not being sold to a minor, an intoxicated customer, or other situations that may put the seller in risk.
That is why we are here to answer any questions related to tobacco products in Aldi, as we know the US doesn’t sell any of those products but what about the UK?
Does Aldi Sell Cigarettes?
No, Aldi doesn’t sell cigarettes or any tobacco products. Most grocery and discount stores do sell cigarettes but the Aldi founders have been adamantly against tobacco products since the beginning of their business.
If you want to know more about why Aldi doesn’t sell tobacco products, then you should keep reading.
Does Aldi Sell Tobacco in the UK?
Aldi doesn’t sell tobacco in any of their UK stores. Similiar to the US market, they don’t sell any cigarettes or tobacco products.
If you want to buy anything that has to do with tobacco, you’re going to have to go to another retailer for the foreseeable future.
However, it’s not so bad, they already have a lot of variety in stock, so the fact that they don’t sell tobacco may even be understandable given the potential problems of selling that kind of product.
Why Doesn’t Aldi Sell Cigarettes?
A lot of big supermarket chains sell cigarettes and other tobacco products, so it’s only natural we ask about the absence of these products in Aldi.
Aldi started many years ago in the 60s and was owned by the Albrecht brothers after their father passed away. Back then they discussed selling tobacco products and they ended up splitting into two Aldis, Aldi North which sold cigarettes, and Aldi South which didn’t sell tobacco products.
The Aldi South part of the franchise was the one that expanded to the UK, so their rules about no tobacco products were kept.
The idea was that it was simply about health concerns and people not going there due to them selling these products.
Of course, there are other reasons today that actually make it better that they don’t sell cigarettes including a few regulations, but it’s not illegal, it’s just a choice on the retailer’s part, but let’s talk a bit more about the legal aspect of this issue.
Is It Legal to Sell Cigarettes in the UK?
Yes, it is legal to sell cigarettes in the UK. However, there are a few regulations that everyone has to follow, otherwise, it will be considered a criminal offense.
Some of the laws include the packaging, which requires every tobacco product to be in a dull brown color package, health warnings, and more.
One of the most important bans regarding tobacco products came in 2012 and they doubled down in 2015 which is regarding the display of tobacco.
While stores are allowed to sell cigarettes and other tobacco products, they are not allowed to display the products nor include the price tag in the package.
Does Aldi UK Sell Any Smoking Accessories?
No, you won’t be able to find anything related to the use of tobacco products at any Aldi, this includes rolling papers, ashtrays, lighters, or E-Cigarettes.
If you are looking for anything related to smoking then you can be sure that Aldi is not the place to find it and they have no plans on changing this policy.
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Conclusion…
Cigarettes and tobacco products are mostly legal everywhere, with only a few select countries banning public smoking, however, stores can sell these products if they want, which is not the case for Aldi.
Aldi won’t sell any sort of tobacco-related products and they don’t seem to be changing their minds anytime soon.
If you do smoke, we recommend you look someplace else, and don’t worry there are a lot of stores that sell cigarettes and more. Some even allow deliveries, so while Aldi has a lot of product variety, you won’t be able to scratch that itch at the popular retailer anytime soon.