🚬 Does Walgreens Sell Cigarettes? Here’s the Latest Update
If you’re wondering whether Walgreens still sells cigarettes, the answer isn’t a simple yes or no. While some Walgreens stores still carry tobacco products, the pharmacy chain has been gradually phasing out cigarette sales in many locations, especially due to state laws, public pressure, and a shift toward health-focused services.
🔑 Key Takeaways: Quick Answers
📌 Does Walgreens still sell cigarettes? – ✅ Yes, but only in select locations. Many stores have stopped selling tobacco altogether.
📌 Why is Walgreens removing cigarettes from stores? – 🚫 Health concerns, public pressure, and state laws banning tobacco sales in pharmacies.
📌 Which Walgreens locations still sell cigarettes? – 🏪 Availability depends on state laws and store policies. Some states, like New York and Massachusetts, have banned tobacco sales in pharmacies.
📌 Does Walgreens sell vapes or e-cigarettes? – ❌ No, Walgreens removed e-cigarettes nationwide in 2019.
📌 Can you buy nicotine patches or gum at Walgreens? – ✅ Yes, Walgreens still sells nicotine replacement therapy (NRT) products for smoking cessation.
📌 Should I call my local Walgreens before visiting for cigarettes? – 📞 Yes, since availability varies by location, it’s best to check ahead.
🚭 Is Walgreens Phasing Out Cigarette Sales?
📌 Yes, but the process is gradual and varies by store. Walgreens has not announced a full company-wide tobacco ban yet, but they have been reducing cigarette sales nationwide over the past few years.
📊 Walgreens’ Tobacco Phase-Out Timeline
| Year 📅 | Policy Change 🔄 |
|---|---|
| 2018 🚀 | Walgreens stops selling cigarettes in test markets like Gainesville, Florida. |
| 2019 ❌ | Walgreens removes e-cigarettes and vapes from all stores due to youth vaping concerns. |
| 2020–2022 🏥 | Various states, including New York and Massachusetts, ban tobacco sales in pharmacies, affecting Walgreens locations. |
| 2023–2025 📉 | Walgreens continues to reduce cigarette sales but does not eliminate them entirely. Some stores still sell tobacco. |
💡 Tip: If you’re looking for cigarettes at Walgreens, check with your local store, as many locations have stopped carrying them.
🏬 Which Walgreens Stores Still Sell Cigarettes?
🏪 Not all Walgreens locations sell cigarettes anymore. Certain stores, particularly those in states with tobacco restrictions or those participating in Walgreens’ health-focused initiatives, no longer carry tobacco products.
📊 Walgreens Locations & Cigarette Availability
| Location Type 📍 | Still Sells Cigarettes? ✅❌ | Notes 📝 |
|---|---|---|
| Walgreens in States with Tobacco Bans 🚫 | ❌ No | States like New York and Massachusetts prohibit pharmacy tobacco sales. |
| Walgreens in Non-Restricted States 🏪 | ✅ Sometimes | Some stores still sell cigarettes, but availability is decreasing. |
| Walgreens in Health-Focused Areas 🏥 | ❌ No | Locations participating in tobacco-free pilot programs have stopped sales. |
💡 Tip: If your Walgreens store does not sell cigarettes, nearby convenience stores or gas stations might.
🚬 Does Walgreens Sell E-Cigarettes, Vapes, or Other Tobacco Products?
📌 No. Walgreens stopped selling e-cigarettes and vapes nationwide in 2019. This decision came after public health concerns about teen vaping and increased government regulations.
📊 Tobacco & Nicotine Product Availability at Walgreens
| Product 🏷️ | Sold at Walgreens? ✅❌ | Notes 📌 |
|---|---|---|
| Cigarettes 🚬 | ✅ Sometimes | Only available in select stores |
| E-Cigarettes / Vapes 🔋 | ❌ No | Removed from all stores in 2019 |
| Cigars / Cigarillos 🏴 | ✅ Sometimes | Availability varies |
| Chewing Tobacco 🌿 | ✅ Sometimes | Found in select locations |
| Nicotine Patches & Gum 🩹 | ✅ Yes | Available in all stores for smoking cessation |
💡 Tip: If you’re trying to quit smoking, Walgreens sells FDA-approved nicotine replacement therapy products, including patches, lozenges, and gum.
📢 Why Is Walgreens Stopping Cigarette Sales?
📌 Walgreens is gradually moving away from tobacco sales due to:
📊 Key Reasons for Walgreens’ Tobacco Phase-Out
| Reason 📋 | Impact on Walgreens & Customers ✅ |
|---|---|
| Health Concerns 🚑 | Aligning with its health care mission by removing cigarettes. |
| State & Local Laws 📜 | Certain states ban pharmacy tobacco sales (e.g., Massachusetts, New York). |
| Public & Shareholder Pressure 🏥 | Advocacy groups and investors urge Walgreens to stop selling tobacco. |
| Shifting Business Model 💊 | Walgreens expanding into health care with clinics and pharmacy services. |
💡 Tip: Many customers find it contradictory for pharmacies to sell cigarettes while promoting health—this is a key reason behind the phase-out.
🔄 Where Can You Still Buy Cigarettes If Walgreens Doesn’t Sell Them?
📌 If your Walgreens no longer carries cigarettes, there are plenty of other places to buy them.
📊 Best Alternative Stores for Buying Cigarettes
| Retailer 🏪 | Sells Cigarettes? ✅❌ | Notes 📌 |
|---|---|---|
| CVS Health ❌ | ❌ No | CVS banned tobacco sales in 2014. |
| 7-Eleven / Gas Stations ⛽ | ✅ Yes | Most reliable option for buying cigarettes. |
| Walmart 🛒 | ✅ Yes | Some stores still sell cigarettes. |
| Kroger / Safeway 🛍️ | ✅ Yes | Available at most locations. |
| Tobacco & Vape Shops 🚬 | ✅ Yes | Specialized stores offer the most variety. |
💡 Tip: If you’re unsure where to buy cigarettes, check gas stations or grocery stores in your area.
🎯 Final Thoughts: Is Walgreens Still a Place to Buy Cigarettes?
- 📌 Walgreens is phasing out cigarette sales, but some stores still sell them.
- 📌 The company removed e-cigarettes in 2019 but still sells nicotine patches and gum.
- 📌 State laws and corporate initiatives are driving Walgreens toward becoming tobacco-free.
- 📌 Check with your local Walgreens before visiting, as availability varies.
🔥 Still have questions? Drop them below! Our experts will provide real-time updates and insights on Walgreens’ evolving tobacco policies. 💬🚭
💬 FAQs
Comment 1: “Why is Walgreens taking so long to completely remove cigarettes if they are focused on health?”
📉 Walgreens is gradually phasing out cigarette sales instead of an immediate ban due to a combination of financial, legal, and customer demand factors.
📊 Key Reasons for Walgreens’ Gradual Tobacco Phase-Out
| Reason ⚖️ | Why It’s Delayed? 🕒 | Impact on Walgreens 📊 |
|---|---|---|
| Financial Considerations 💰 | Tobacco sales still generate revenue, and an abrupt halt could affect store profits. | Walgreens is balancing health concerns with business sustainability. |
| Customer Demand 🚬 | Some loyal customers still expect to find cigarettes at their local Walgreens. | The company doesn’t want to drive customers to competitors too quickly. |
| State-by-State Legislation 📜 | Different states have different tobacco laws, meaning Walgreens can’t implement a uniform policy nationwide yet. | Walgreens must comply with state-specific restrictions. |
| Shareholder and Market Pressure 📈 | Investors expect Walgreens to transition without disrupting overall sales. | Walgreens is strategically reducing availability to soften financial losses. |
💡 Tip: As Walgreens continues expanding its role in health care, the full removal of tobacco is expected within the next few years.
Comment 2: “If Walgreens still sells cigarettes, does that mean they don’t actually care about health?”
🏥 Walgreens is in a transition phase, balancing business interests with public health goals. While cigarettes are still available in some locations, the company is actively shifting toward a more health-focused model.
📊 Walgreens’ Contradiction: Cigarettes vs. Health Care
| Factor 🏥 | Supports Health? ✅ | Contradicts Health? ❌ |
|---|---|---|
| Selling Cigarettes 🚬 | ❌ No | Contradicts their health-care branding |
| Removing E-Cigarettes (2019) ❌ | ✅ Yes | Took action against youth vaping risks |
| Expanding Walgreens Health Clinics 🏥 | ✅ Yes | Investing in patient-centered care |
| Selling Nicotine Replacement Products 🩹 | ✅ Yes | Helps customers quit smoking |
💡 Tip: Pharmacies are evolving into health hubs, and Walgreens is slowly aligning its retail policies with this vision.
Comment 3: “What states have banned Walgreens from selling cigarettes?”
📜 Several states and cities have passed laws prohibiting the sale of tobacco in pharmacies, including Walgreens locations.
📊 U.S. States & Cities That Have Banned Pharmacy Tobacco Sales
| State / City 📍 | Ban on Walgreens Selling Cigarettes? 🚫 | Effective Since 📅 |
|---|---|---|
| Massachusetts 🏛️ | ✅ Yes | 2020 |
| New York (Statewide Ban) 🏙️ | ✅ Yes | 2020 |
| San Francisco, CA 🌁 | ✅ Yes | 2018 |
| Gainesville, FL (Pilot Program) 🌴 | ✅ Yes | 2018 |
💡 Tip: If you live in one of these areas, Walgreens will not carry cigarettes at any location within state limits.
Comment 4: “Does Walgreens still sell menthol cigarettes, or were they banned?”
🚭 The sale of menthol cigarettes is now illegal in certain places due to stricter tobacco regulations.
📊 Menthol Cigarette Sales at Walgreens
| Factor 📜 | Availability at Walgreens? ✅❌ | Notes 📝 |
|---|---|---|
| Menthol Cigarette Ban in Some States 🚫 | ❌ No | Walgreens complies with state laws where bans exist. |
| Federal Menthol Ban Proposal 🏛️ | ❓ Uncertain | The FDA is pushing for a national ban on menthol cigarettes. |
| Menthol Availability in Non-Ban States ✅ | ✅ Yes (Limited) | Some Walgreens locations still carry them. |
💡 Tip: Check your state laws—menthol bans are rolling out in various locations, meaning availability at Walgreens will continue decreasing.
Comment 5: “Why did Walgreens stop selling e-cigarettes but not traditional cigarettes?”
🚭 Walgreens removed e-cigarettes in 2019 due to the rise in youth vaping but hasn’t fully eliminated traditional cigarettes yet.
📊 Why Walgreens Banned Vapes But Not Cigarettes
| Reason ⚖️ | E-Cigarettes (Banned 2019) ❌ | Traditional Cigarettes (Still Sold in Some Stores) ✅ |
|---|---|---|
| Teen Vaping Epidemic 🚸 | ✅ Removed due to concerns about youth addiction. | ❌ Traditional cigarettes have age restrictions but still pose risks. |
| Regulatory Pressure 📜 | ✅ Increased FDA scrutiny on e-cigarette sales. | ❌ Cigarettes have existing regulations, but no recent bans. |
| Health Concerns 🏥 | ✅ Linked to vaping-related illnesses. | ❌ Long-term health effects are well-known but still legally sold. |
💡 Tip: If Walgreens prioritizes health, expect cigarettes to be phased out next—similar to how they handled vapes.
Comment 6: “Where should I go if Walgreens near me no longer sells cigarettes?”
🏪 If your local Walgreens has stopped selling cigarettes, there are still plenty of places to buy them.
📊 Alternative Stores That Sell Cigarettes
| Retailer 🏬 | Sells Cigarettes? ✅❌ | Notes 📌 |
|---|---|---|
| CVS Health ❌ | ❌ No | CVS banned cigarette sales in 2014. |
| 7-Eleven / Gas Stations ⛽ | ✅ Yes | Most reliable place to buy cigarettes. |
| Walmart 🛒 | ✅ Yes | Available in many locations, but some stores are removing them. |
| Kroger / Safeway 🛍️ | ✅ Yes | Grocery stores still sell cigarettes. |
💡 Tip: If you can’t find cigarettes at Walgreens, check a gas station, convenience store, or grocery store.
Comment 7: “What is Walgreens replacing cigarettes with in stores that no longer sell them?”
🔄 Walgreens is replacing cigarettes with health-focused products and smoking cessation aids.
📊 What Walgreens Offers Instead of Cigarettes
| Replacement Product 🔄 | Purpose 🎯 | Availability 🏬 |
|---|---|---|
| Nicotine Patches & Gum 🩹 | Helps smokers quit | ✅ Yes, available in all stores |
| CVS MinuteClinic-style Health Services 🏥 | Expanding pharmacy health care | ✅ Rolling out in select stores |
| Wellness & Fitness Products 🏃 | Supports healthy lifestyle changes | ✅ Increased stock of health-related products |
💡 Tip: Walgreens is shifting its retail model towards becoming a health and wellness destination, which means tobacco sales are becoming obsolete.
Comment 8: “If Walgreens is removing cigarettes, does that mean they’ll stop selling alcohol too?”
🍺 No, Walgreens has not announced any plans to remove alcohol from its stores. The decision to phase out cigarettes is primarily due to health risks and legislative pressures, whereas alcohol sales remain a regulated but widely accepted consumer product.
📊 Cigarettes vs. Alcohol: Why Walgreens is Phasing Out One But Not the Other
| Factor ⚖️ | Cigarettes 🚬 (Being Phased Out) | Alcohol 🍷 (Still Sold) |
|---|---|---|
| Health Risks 🚑 | Proven to cause cancer, heart disease, and lung issues with no safe level of consumption. | Moderate alcohol use is widely considered acceptable, though excessive consumption is harmful. |
| Public & Government Pressure 🏛️ | Heavy regulation and advocacy groups pushing for pharmacy tobacco bans. | No widespread movements banning alcohol from pharmacies. |
| Business Considerations 💰 | Cigarette sales declining nationwide as smoking rates drop. | Alcohol remains a high-demand retail product with consistent sales. |
| Legal Restrictions 📜 | Many states now prohibit tobacco sales in pharmacies. | Alcohol sales remain legal, with varying state-specific restrictions. |
💡 Tip: While cigarettes are being phased out, alcohol sales remain a key retail segment for Walgreens, particularly in states where it is widely available.
Comment 9: “Will Walgreens completely stop selling cigarettes nationwide, like CVS did?”
📉 Walgreens is heading in that direction, but they haven’t fully committed to a complete nationwide ban yet. Unlike CVS, which removed tobacco entirely in 2014, Walgreens is taking a gradual, location-based approach.
📊 Comparing CVS vs. Walgreens Tobacco Policies
| Pharmacy 🏥 | Sells Cigarettes? 🚬 | Tobacco-Free Policy? ✅ | Year of Full Ban 📅 |
|---|---|---|---|
| CVS Health ❌ | ❌ No | ✅ Yes | 2014 |
| Walgreens ⚠️ | ✅ Some locations | ❌ Not yet fully committed | Ongoing phase-out |
| Rite Aid 🏪 | ✅ Yes | ❌ No | No plans for removal yet |
| Walmart Pharmacy 🛒 | ✅ Some locations | ❌ No | Removing cigarettes in select stores |
💡 Tip: If you want to support a fully tobacco-free pharmacy, CVS is currently the only nationwide chain with a complete cigarette ban.
Comment 10: “How can I tell if my local Walgreens still sells cigarettes?”
📞 The best way to check is to call your local Walgreens and ask. Since cigarette availability depends on state laws and store policies, it’s not guaranteed at every location.
📊 Ways to Check If Your Walgreens Still Sells Cigarettes
| Method 📍 | How to Do It? 📞 | Best for? ✅ |
|---|---|---|
| Call the Store 📞 | Ask customer service if they sell cigarettes. | Quickest way to get an answer. |
| Check Walgreens’ Store Locator 🗺️ | Find your nearest store and call for confirmation. | Ensures you don’t waste a trip. |
| Visit In-Person 🚶 | Look behind the checkout counter for tobacco products. | Best if you’re already near the store. |
| Ask a Walgreens Employee 🏪 | Employees can confirm if cigarettes are still sold at their location. | Reliable, but not always updated on corporate decisions. |
💡 Tip: Some Walgreens stores have recently removed cigarettes without updating their online listings, so calling ahead is the safest option.
Comment 11: “Will Walgreens replace cigarette sales with something else?”
🔄 Yes! Walgreens is shifting toward health-related products and smoking cessation aids instead of traditional tobacco products.
📊 What Walgreens is Adding as They Remove Cigarettes
| New Product Category 🛍️ | Why It’s Replacing Cigarettes? 🔄 | Availability? ✅ |
|---|---|---|
| Nicotine Patches & Gum 🩹 | Helps smokers quit instead of encouraging continued use. | ✅ Available at all stores. |
| CVS MinuteClinic-style Health Services 🏥 | Walgreens is expanding into healthcare and wellness. | ✅ Rolling out in select locations. |
| Expanded Wellness & Fitness Products 🏃 | Encourages healthier alternatives. | ✅ Increasing stock in most stores. |
| Healthy Snacks & Beverages 🥗 | Matches their wellness-focused rebranding. | ✅ Becoming more prominent. |
💡 Tip: If your Walgreens has stopped selling cigarettes, check for expanded wellness aisles and health-focused products.
Comment 12: “If I have a Walgreens rewards account, can I use it to buy cigarettes?”
🚫 No, Walgreens’ myWalgreens rewards program does not allow earning or redeeming points on tobacco products.
📊 Walgreens Rewards Policy for Cigarette Purchases
| Reward Feature 💳 | Can Be Used on Cigarettes? 🚬 | Notes 📝 |
|---|---|---|
| Earning Points on Tobacco 📈 | ❌ No | Purchases of cigarettes do not accumulate reward points. |
| Redeeming Points for Tobacco 🔄 | ❌ No | You cannot use Walgreens rewards to buy cigarettes. |
| Discount Coupons on Tobacco 🏷️ | ❌ No | Walgreens does not offer tobacco-related discounts. |
| Eligible for Discounts on Nicotine Patches? 🩹 | ✅ Yes | Smoking cessation products qualify for rewards. |
💡 Tip: If you want to save money while quitting smoking, you can use Walgreens rewards on nicotine replacement therapies like patches and gum.
Comment 13: “Why does Walgreens still sell cigarettes if they claim to care about public health?”
⚖️ Walgreens is stuck between public health responsibilities and consumer demand. While the company is moving toward a health-focused business model, they also have to balance financial realities and customer expectations.
📊 Why Walgreens Hasn’t Fully Banned Cigarettes Yet
| Reason ⚖️ | Impact on Walgreens 📊 |
|---|---|
| Revenue Concerns 💰 | Cigarettes are still a source of revenue for locations that sell them. |
| Customer Demand 🚬 | Some customers expect tobacco products to be available. |
| Legislative Complexity 📜 | Walgreens must navigate different state laws before making a nationwide decision. |
| Gradual Business Transition 🔄 | The company is shifting toward health services but needs time to adjust financially. |
💡 Tip: Walgreens will likely phase out cigarettes completely in the near future, but it’s taking a slower approach compared to CVS.
