If you’re a smoker then you know that keeping cigarettes in supply can be challenging at times, especially if you don’t live near a store or gas station that sells them.
Therefore, you may wonder- does Instacart deliver cigarettes? Or will you have to look elsewhere to get your nicotine fix without leaving home? The answer you need is below!
Does Instacart Deliver Cigarettes In [currentyear]?
Instacart does not currently deliver cigarettes, or any other products containing tobacco, as part of its normal operations, although the company does deliver alcohol in 14 states in [currentyear]. Customers looking to get cigarettes brought to their front door may be able to do so through other food-delivery apps, provided they are 21 years of age.
So why doesn’t Instacart deliver cigarettes, and where can you turn if you need your fix but don’t want to leave home? And can you ask your Instacart shopper to add them on while they’re in-store? Keep reading for all you need to know.
Why Doesn’t Instacart Deliver Cigarettes?
Instacart does not currently and never has delivered cigarettes, for a few different reasons.
First, cigarettes are regulated by the government, from the top (Federal), all the way down in some cases, in every state.
Tobacco laws may differ by state, county, and even by city.
Therefore, it would be incredibly challenging for one company, present and operational in 50 states, to ensure total compliance down to the letter in each instance.
Next, tobacco has (rightly) developed a terrible reputation for its negative health effects, and more and more stores have moved away from selling it.
Instacart is known as an innovator, a futuristic problem-solver, so cigarette sales may not enhance that image.
All it would take is one shopper getting caught delivering cigarettes to minors, and Instacart would end up with a press storm on its hands.
What Delivery Services Will Deliver Cigarettes?
Even though Instacart is out of the tobacco game, there is one other delivery service that will bring cigarettes to your front door: DoorDash.
However, the company does adhere strictly to federal law, which prohibits tobacco sales to anyone under 21 years of age.
In order to receive cigarettes through DoorDash, you must not only be 21 or older but also have a valid photo ID to prove it.
Valid means not only that it’s a driver’s license, ID card, passport, or military ID, but it must not be expired.
Dashers are taught how to spot fake IDs, and you can also expect them to give your ID a thorough check.
That means checking for the expiration date, ensuring your face matches the one on the card, and double-checking the birthdate.
Can You Ask An Instacart Shopper to Buy Cigarettes?
One feature that a lot of people appreciate on the Instacart app is the ability to chat with their shoppers and ask them to look for things that might not be listed in the inventory.
For example, at Aldi, if you know the store had a certain Finds item yesterday, but it’s not listed on the app today, you can ask your shopper to look for it.
However, some people might see this as an opportunity to ask their shoppers to add on a pack of cigarettes, which are assuredly not listed on the app.
Are you allowed to do this? There’s no law stopping you.
Will your shopper do it? Not if they want to keep their account active on Instacart.
You might come across an inexperienced shopper who goes ahead and does this for you, but they are risking their position and breaking the law.
If you have purchased alcohol on Instacart, you know the app “cards” you at check out, and then the shopper confirms age eligibility upon delivery.
Asking your shopper to buy cigarettes for you (and then reimburse them with Venmo or Paypal or what-have-you) circumvents that process – which is what makes it legal in the first place.
Do not ask your shopper to do this. It’s not only illegal, it puts newer or less assertive shoppers in a very difficult and uncomfortable position.
Does Instacart Deliver CBD Products?
Despite not being able to deliver nicotine products, Instacart can deliver CBD products.
Cannabinoids are non-psychoactive and have been fully legalized since the 2018 Farm Bill passed.
Because of this, almost all CBD products (excepting those that can be smoked or inhaled) are eligible for purchase by anyone of any age whatsoever.
Thus, Instacart doesn’t have to worry about adhering to restrictions when it comes to most CBD products, and they can be purchased and delivered via the app.
You will likely see them through grocery stores as supplements or vitamins, or even creams and lotions.
Does Instacart Deliver Alcohol?
Instacart might not deliver cigarettes, but it does deliver alcohol in 14 states and the District of Columbia!
That’s right, if you live in…
- California
- Florida
- Hawaii
- Idaho
- Illinois
- Massachusetts
- Minnesota
- Missouri
- Nebraska
- North Carolina
- Ohio
- Washington, D.C.
…You can order alcohol through Instacart, and have it delivered to your front door.
Obviously, you will need to be 21+, with valid photographic proof of ID, and you can expect your shopper to check your ID when they arrive.
To know more, you can also read our related posts on whether or not Instacart delivers to apartments, Instacart shop-only orders, and Instacart market basket.
Conclusion
Instacart does not deliver cigarettes, and the likelihood it ever will is pretty low. Instead, customers 21+ who don’t want to leave their houses can use DoorDash to receive them.
Products with CBD (except for items that are inhaled or smoked) and alcohol (in some states) are still fair game for delivery, so add them to your cart to your heart’s content.
