Smoking can be an expensive habit, and it can be frustrating having to go to the store frequently to refill your stockpile of cigarettes. With the emergence and rising popularity of delivery apps, smokers might wonder if apps like Instacart will deliver cigarettes.
Having cigarettes delivered right to your door seems like a huge convenience, but is it a reality?
Does Instacart Deliver Cigarettes?
Instacart does not deliver cigarettes. This is mainly due to variations in tobacco laws across different regions, and also because of the legal hurdles a company must jump through to sell tobacco products.
Although Instacart does not deliver cigarettes, they will deliver alcohol products. However, you will need to provide ID as proof of your age before the driver will hand over the alcohol. You have to be 21 years of age in the US to purchase alcohol products.
Hopefully in the future, as delivery apps become more mature and common, apps like Instacart may change their policies. For now, though, it is not possible to order cigarettes through Instacart. There are other apps, however, that will.
Keep reading to find some details on which apps deliver cigarettes, as well as how to order cigarettes for delivery online.
Why Doesn’t Instacart Deliver Cigarettes?
As mentioned earlier, there are many different laws dealing with tobacco sales and trade. Tobacco products have been a staple American cash crop since before America was even independent.
It is also known to cause many health problems, including cancer. Accordingly, there are a multitude of different laws in various regions which regulate the sale, transport, and consumption of tobacco products.
Instacart does not deliver cigarettes because of the legal regulations on tobacco sales. They have to ensure their customers are at least 21 years of age, and they must comply with a number of other regulations as well. This can be prohibitively expensive or tedious for companies like Instacart.
The laws that regulate tobacco sales and use are multi-faceted, and become even more complex when you add in things like e-cigarettes, smokeless tobacco, or cigars. Some companies, such as Instacart, would rather just avoid the issue than deal with all the red tape involved.
Perhaps this will change sometime in the future, but for now, it is not possible to have cigarettes delivered through instacart.
What Delivery Apps Deliver Cigarettes
Although Instacart doesn’t deliver tobacco, there is a delivery service that does. Since delivery apps are quickly becoming a very competitive market, it comes as no surprise that at least one service would go to the trouble of delivering tobacco products to gain an edge over the competition.
A number of delivery apps will deliver cigarettes. These include DoorDash, Saucey, and 7NOW. They will deliver cigarettes and other tobacco products right to your door, provided you can show ID proving that you are at least 21 years of age.
DoorDash is the company with the most coverage across the US, so it’s probably your best bet on having cigarettes delivered in your area. However, other apps such as Saucey also have good coverage, and they sometimes have additional deals and promotions that could make them worth checking out.
It is worth noting that you will have to show ID proving you are over 21 years of age in order to purchase tobacco products from any of these services. The driver that delivers the products to you must also be at least 21 years of age. The smoking age across the US was changed from 18 years to 21 years of age in 2020.
Although your options for getting cigarettes delivered are rather limited currently, this might change in the future. If you want your favorite delivery apps to start offering cigarette delivery, you can let them know by contacting their customer service representatives and leaving a suggestion.
They will typically be happy to record your recommendation and pass it on to their superiors.
How To Get Cigarettes Delivered
Ordering cigarettes for delivery online comes with its own caveats and expectations. The first thing you must do is make sure you have all your identification in order. You will need to show ID proving you are 21 years of age if you expect to have tobacco products delivered. This is true no matter what app you choose for delivery, since the laws across the US require it.
To get cigarettes delivered through DoorDash or other apps, you can simply open the app and click on “Special Order Types”. Here, you can add the brand of cigarettes you wish to purchase in the “extra instructions” field.
It goes without saying that you will have to download the DoorDash app and create an account if you want to order anything through DoorDash. If you do not have a mobile phone, you can sign up for an account and order directly from the DoorDash website.
Different apps will have different specifics for ordering tobacco products compared to their competitors. Most of them have search bars that allow you to search for exactly what you want. Try putting in “tobacco” or “cigarettes” to try and find what you’re looking for.
If you have trouble figuring out exactly how to order cigarettes through other apps, you can always contact customer support. They will usually be happy to clarify the process for you.
Conclusion..
Getting cigarettes delivered right to your door can be a very convenient service. However, it can be prohibitively difficult for delivery apps to offer tobacco sales, due to all the regulations and red tape that they must go through in order to legally sell tobacco.
Even still, some companies have taken the plunge and begun offering tobacco deliveries online and through their respective apps. These include DoorDash, Saucey, and others. Many major cities have their own local delivery services for tobacco and alcohol as well, so it’s worth doing a bit of research before attempting to order cigarettes online.
If you have any questions or concerns, feel free to ask away in the comments section.