Does Target Sell Cigarettes? (Facts) - Confessions of a Couponaholic

Does Target sell cigarettes? There was a time when Target sold tobacco products, but these days you cannot get your favorite cigarette at a Target store.

Can I purchase cigarettes at Target?

No, you will not be getting any cigarettes at Target. Target quit selling cigarettes 27 years ago – in August 1996. It was a historical step among all the major retail chains at the time. Since then, Target has made all the effort to build its brand on the narrative of ‘Health Consciousness’ for the betterment of society.

Why did Target stop selling cigarettes?

The main reason Target had to stop selling tobacco products is that – keeping tobacco products out of the hands of underage smokers was too expensive and not commercially viable.

Smoking was at an all-time high at the time, and new research kept discouraging the habit of smoking among teenagers.

More restrictions on the use of tobacco products were coming up, and multiple states were open to the idea of having an age limit of 18 or above for smokers.

Target also lost a lot of revenue as minors stole a lot of tobacco products continuously as they put screening measures in place.

During the late 90s, Target could only generate less than 1% of its total profit from the sale of tobacco products. So, in 1996 they quit selling cigarettes and all other tobacco products.

does target sell cigarettes — Target checkout – no cigarette products sold here

Does Target sell cigars?

No, they quit selling cigars at the same time as they did with cigarettes in their physical stores and on their website. However, if you need books about cigars, the different varieties of cigars, and where they come from – you will find a lot of them.

Can I buy e-cigarettes at Target?

No, even though e-cigarettes are all the rage these days among teenagers – Target does not sell such items as they fall under the category of tobacco products.

Can I get vape products at Target?

Vape products would also fall under the category of tobacco products – so you will not be getting vape pens at a Target store.

They have recently decided as a company to never sell vape products. This could be because vape pens are causing unusual infections in the lungs of vape users and other respiratory disorders. They also do not sell loose tobacco or even rolling paper.

However, if you do require popular batteries like AAA or AA for your e-cigarettes or vape products – you can find these at a Target store.

They also sell other electrical items for vape pens, such as charges and USB adapters with huge discounts.

Target checkout - no tobacco products here — Target checkout – no tobacco products here

Does Target sell products that help you quit smoking?

Yes, you will be able to purchase different types of products that help you quit smoking at Target. This includes several anti-smoking aids such as nicotine patches, lozenges, and gums.

Target’s proprietary brand sells a variety of nicotine gum which is significantly less expensive than most other nicotine gums.

Popular ‘quit-smoking’ products like Nicorette and NicoDerm are also available here at pocket-friendly prices.

Does Target sell any smoking supplies?

Some products sold at Target may have a direct link or an indirect link with tobacco products. Some of these products are as follows:

Lighters for tobacco products.
Cigarette holder for car.
Designer ashtrays for both indoor and outdoor use.
Devices for disposing or shredding cigarette butts.

Keep in mind that in most states, the buyers have to be over the age of 21 to purchase these products. The buyer might also have to submit an ID proof to the seller if the seller insists on it.

My experience with getting unique retail questions like this answered…

While I don’t smoke… I know many people who do. And I’ve watched them struggle to find the nearest locations to them that carry the products they’re looking for. Based on those experiences, I have a few tips that are going to help you in the long run!

Here are the simple tips to save you time and money:

Call ahead – I know! We hate hearing this advice. Although, it’s really quite helpful. Just make a simple phone call and double-check that the services are offered at the location. It goes a really long way!
Ask about pricing – It’s great to know what things cost in advance. This helps you to bring the right amount of money with you and makes sure that you don’t have to go home for a double-trip!

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Common questions about purchasing tobacco products at a local Target retail location.

Unlike Target, which other major retail outlets in the US sell tobacco products?

Not every retailer shares Target’s philosophy, and many retail outlets still sell tobacco products across the different states in America. Some of these companies are – Publix, Costco, 7-11, Safeway, Sam’s Club, Dollar General, Meijer, Kroger, Albertsons, Walgreens, Family Dollar, Rite-Aid, Winco, etc.

Did Target ever sell cigarettes?

Before 1996, Target was not making waves by selling or promoting cigarettes. However, the huge spike in teenage smoking in the early 90s was affecting its brand image – especially in the state of Minnesota (Target’s home state).

Teenagers and minors could easily steal tobacco products from its stores, and the retail giant got a lot of negative publicity for the same. In 1992, it had to pay a lot of money in fines to acquire licenses for selling tobacco products for some of its stores in Minnesota.

Can you smoke in Target Center?

No, you cannot smoke in Target Center as it is a smoke-free zone. It was the first major arena in America that was not designed to accommodate smoking. You can also not smoke e-cigarettes or vape pens inside this facility.

There is no designated smoking zone, and you cannot come back if you leave the premise while an event is going on. If caught smoking inside Target Center, you will be asked to leave the premises immediately.