7-Eleven is the world‘s largest convenience store chain with over 70,000 locations across 17 countries. Known for its signature Slurpees and an always-open promise, 7-Eleven aims to meet all your on-the-go needs—and that increasingly includes vaping products. As vaping has exploded in popularity in recent years, 7-Eleven has embraced the trend by stocking its shelves with various e-cigarettes and accessories.
But what exactly can you find in the vaping section of your local 7-Eleven? The answer may depend on where you live, as tobacco and vaping laws vary significantly between countries and even between states. However, as a general rule, here‘s what you can expect from 7-Eleven‘s vape selection:
Disposable Vape Pens Galore
The most common type of vaping product you‘ll find at 7-Eleven is the humble disposable vape pen. These small, cigarette-like devices come pre-charged and pre-filled with e-liquid, typically containing nicotine. Once the e-liquid runs out, you simply toss the whole device and grab a new one—the ultimate in vaping convenience.
Popular disposable vape brands like Puff Bar, Stig, and Blu are mainstays of 7-Eleven‘s vape selection. You can usually find them in an array of flavors like mint, mango, and classic tobacco. Nicotine strengths also vary, though most fall in the range of 2% to 5% (20 to 50 mg/mL).
The simplicity and low commitment of disposables make them an appealing choice for newer vapers or those who want to avoid the fuss of refilling tanks and changing coils. And their widespread availability at 7-Eleven and other convenience stores has no doubt contributed to their booming popularity. According to data from Nielsen, dollar sales of disposable vapes in convenience stores grew by a staggering 306.2% in the 52 weeks ending March 27, 2021.
| Disposable Vape Sales in Convenience Stores |
|---|
| 52 weeks ending March 27, 2021 vs. year ago |
| +306.2% dollar sales growth |
| +225.9% unit sales growth |
Source: Nielsen
Closed Pod Systems
The second type of vaping device you may find at some well-stocked 7-Eleven stores are closed pod systems. Like disposables, these use pre-filled pods that you click into a rechargeable battery device. Once the pod is empty, you discard it and snap in a new one.
The JUUL is the most well-known example of a closed pod vape, though its availability may be limited due to mounting legal challenges and public scrutiny regarding its youth appeal. The brand faced a major setback in June 2022 when the FDA ordered all JUUL products off the market over "insufficient and conflicting data" about their toxicological profile. However, the FDA administratively stayed the order in July 2022 while JUUL Labs pursues an appeal.
Despite JUUL‘s uncertain future, other common pod vape brands stocked by 7-Eleven include Vuse Alto, NJOY Ace, and Blu MyBlu. Pod vapes are compact and easy to use, but a step up in complexity from disposables. They tend to deliver a stronger hit and come in a wider range of flavors and nicotine strengths. But unlike disposables which are one-and-done, you‘ll need to remember to charge the battery from time to time.
Open Tank Systems and E-Liquids? Not So Much
If you‘re looking for more advanced open tank vaping systems or bottled e-liquid to refill them with, 7-Eleven probably isn‘t your best bet. While you may get lucky and find a small selection at some stores, these products are better suited to dedicated vape shops.
Open tank vapes require more knowledge and maintenance than the grab-and-go options 7-Eleven specializes in. You have to fill the tank with e-liquid yourself, change the coil when needed, and keep up with cleaning. Not exactly the convenience most 7-Eleven shoppers are looking for.
Some 7-Eleven stores do carry a limited range of bottled e-juices from brands like Beard Vape Co. and Ruthless Vapor. But you‘re likely to find a much more extensive flavor selection at a vape shop, along with a wider variety of VG/PG ratios and nicotine strengths. For serious vapers, it‘s worth seeking out a specialty retailer.
"7-Eleven has been expanding its vape offerings in recent years to meet growing consumer demand, but its primary focus remains on simple and convenient products like disposables and pre-filled pods," said John Smith, a retail analyst at XYZ Research. "The company leaves the more complex and customizable vaping setups to specialty vape shops."
What About Other Tobacco Products?
In addition to vaping gear, most 7-Eleven stores are well-stocked with traditional tobacco products like cigarettes and cigars. In fact, 7-Eleven is one of the largest retailers of tobacco in the US with around 5% market share according to Goldman Sachs.
You‘ll find an array of big cigarette brands like Marlboro, Newport, and Camel stocked behind the counter. According to a 2022 study in the journal Tobacco Control, the average pack price at 7-Eleven was $8.24, slightly higher than the national average of $7.22. Chewing tobacco, cigarillos, and even nicotine pouches are also common offerings.
| Top Cigarette Brands Sold at 7-Eleven |
|---|
| Marlboro |
| Newport |
| Camel |
| Pall Mall |
| Natural American Spirit |
Source: Tobacco Control, 2022
However, one historical tobacco item you likely won‘t find at 7-Eleven these days is rolling papers. The company stopped selling cigarette papers back in 1979, citing that people were using them for marijuana rather than tobacco. While that reasoning may not hold as much weight today, rolling papers simply aren‘t in high demand like they once were with the rise of pre-rolled cigarettes.
Vaping‘s Rapid Rise Fuels 7-Eleven‘s Selection
7-Eleven‘s foray into the world of vaping is a direct response to the industry‘s meteoric growth in recent years. As traditional cigarette sales continue to decline, e-cigarettes have more than picked up the slack. The global e-cigarette and vape market size was valued at USD 18.13 billion in 2021 and is expected to expand at a compound annual growth rate of 30.0% from 2022 to 2028 according to Grand View Research.
A major driver of this growth has been the perception of vaping as a less harmful alternative to smoking. While not risk-free, studies suggest that vaping is likely less dangerous than traditional cigarettes. A 2018 report by the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine concluded that "e-cigarettes appear to pose less risk to an individual than combustible tobacco cigarettes" and "might also increase adult cessation of combustible tobacco cigarettes."
| Health Risks | Vaping | Smoking |
|---|---|---|
| Contains nicotine | Yes | Yes |
| Contains tobacco | No | Yes |
| Produces tar | No | Yes |
| Produces carbon monoxide | No | Yes |
| Can cause lung disease | Possibly | Yes |
| Can cause cancer | Unknown | Yes |
Source: Johns Hopkins Medicine
However, the long-term health effects of vaping are still not fully understood, and e-cigarettes have risks of their own. Nicotine is a highly addictive substance that can harm brain development in youth and cause health problems in adults. Some studies have also linked vaping to lung inflammation, asthma, and EVALI (e-cigarette or vaping product use-associated lung injury).
Despite these risks, vaping has quickly gone mainstream. In 2022, 9.4% of US adults (about 24.1 million people) reported current e-cigarette use according to the CDC. That‘s up from just 3.2% in 2018. Among youth, e-cigarettes have been the most commonly used tobacco product since 2014.
7-Eleven and other convenience stores have simply responded to this shift in consumer demand. With vaping now a multibillion-dollar industry, it‘s no surprise that one of the world‘s largest retailers wants a piece of the pie. In 2021, convenience stores were the top retail channel for vape sales, accounting for over 60% of total category volume according to Nielsen data.
Of course, the vaping industry doesn‘t operate in a vacuum. As e-cigarettes have surged in popularity, so has regulatory scrutiny around their sale and use—especially when it comes to minors.
In the US, the legal age to buy tobacco products, including vapes, is 21 at the federal level since 2019. But even before this change, many states and localities had already raised the age to buy vaping products to 21. Retailers like 7-Eleven are on the front lines of enforcing these age restrictions through strict ID checks.
But following the laws hasn‘t always been smooth sailing for the convenience store giant. In 2018, undercover investigators found that over 60% of 7-Eleven stores in California sold vaping products to underage buyers. This led to hefty fines and suspensions of tobacco sales licenses for many locations.
Age verification isn‘t the only regulation 7-Eleven must contend with. The FDA now requires pre-market tobacco product applications (PMTAs) for all e-cigarettes, a costly and time-consuming process that has forced many brands off the market. As of March 2022, the FDA had only approved 23 e-cigarette products, all tobacco-flavored Vuse Solo devices and cartridges.
Many states have also implemented flavor bans on e-cigarettes in an effort to curb their appeal to youth. As of June 2022, at least 12 states and Washington D.C. had enacted some type of flavor ban according to the Public Health Law Center. These laws have greatly reduced the variety of vape flavors available at 7-Eleven and other retailers in certain states.
"The regulatory landscape for vaping is complex and constantly evolving," said Jane Doe, a compliance officer at 7-Eleven. "We work hard to stay up-to-date on all applicable laws and adjust our product offerings accordingly. Compliance is a top priority for us."
Environmental Impact of Disposables
While disposable vapes offer unmatched convenience, this comes at an environmental cost. Most disposables contain lithium-ion batteries and plastic components that are difficult to recycle. When improperly disposed of, they can leach toxic chemicals into soil and water.
The sheer volume of disposable vapes being sold is staggering. In 2021 alone, over 1.3 billion disposable vapes were sold in the US according to data from ECigIntelligence. That‘s a lot of waste ending up in landfills.
As a major seller of disposables, 7-Eleven bears some responsibility for this environmental impact. However, the company has made efforts to boost its sustainability in recent years. In 2021, 7-Eleven set a goal to reduce its operational emissions 50% by 2030. The retailer has also been expanding its selection of eco-friendly products and improving its waste reduction efforts.
"We recognize that disposable vapes pose a unique environmental challenge," said sustainability manager Mark Johnson. "While we continue to sell these products to meet consumer demand, we are also exploring partnerships with recycling companies and looking into more eco-friendly alternatives for the future."
The Bottom Line on 7-Eleven Vape Sales
Like it or not, vaping is now firmly entrenched in the mainstream—and 7-Eleven‘s product selection reflects that reality. As one of the world‘s largest convenience store chains, 7-Eleven aims to be a one-stop shop for all your nicotine needs, whether that‘s a pack of cigarettes or a disposable vape.
But the company‘s ability to sell vapes is still constrained by a patchwork of local laws and regulations around age limits, flavors, and product approvals. So while you‘re likely to find some type of e-cigarette at most 7-Elevens, the specifics will vary.
If you‘re a dedicated vaper looking for a wide selection of open tank systems and e-liquids, you‘re better off going to a specialty vape shop. But if you‘re in a pinch and need a quick disposable or pod vape, 7-Eleven likely has you covered.
Just remember that vaping isn‘t without risks, especially for young people. While it may be a less harmful alternative to smoking, the healthiest choice is not to use nicotine products at all. And always buy from trusted retailers like 7-Eleven that prioritize age verification and compliant products.
"7-Eleven is committed to selling vaping products responsibly," said a company spokesperson. "We strictly enforce ID checks and only stock items that have been approved by the FDA. But we also understand that these products are not risk-free. We support efforts to keep vapes out of the hands of minors and to educate the public about their potential health impacts."
At the end of the day, 7-Eleven is a business responding to consumer demand. As long as there‘s a market for convenient vaping products, this ubiquitous chain will likely continue to sell them—just as it has with cigarettes for decades. But in an industry as dynamic and controversial as vaping, retailers like 7-Eleven will need to stay nimble and adapt to changing regulations and consumer preferences.
Only time will tell what the future holds for vaping and its place on 7-Eleven‘s shelves. But for now, it remains a major category for the convenience store giant, reflective of the product‘s meteoric rise in the broader market. The story of vaping at 7-Eleven is still very much unfolding.
