As an expert in the retail and consumer space, I‘ve been closely following the rise of on-demand delivery apps and how they are reshaping the way people purchase all sorts of goods. One trend that‘s caught my eye recently is the emergence of cigarette delivery, now available through some major platforms like Uber Eats.
For smokers, the ability to order a pack of cigarettes and have them delivered right to your door may seem like a dream come true. But the concept has also sparked some debate and raised important questions about the implications of making tobacco products so easily accessible. In this article, I‘ll provide an in-depth look at how cigarette delivery works on Uber Eats, where it‘s available, and what it means for consumers and public health.
The Evolution of Uber‘s Product Offerings
Uber has long been synonymous with ride-sharing, but the company has been steadily expanding its business model over the years. It first got into the delivery game back in 2014 with the launch of Uber Eats, which initially focused on partnering with local restaurants for on-demand meal delivery.
However, it didn‘t take long for Uber to start pushing into other verticals beyond just food. In 2017, the company announced a partnership with Walmart to offer grocery delivery in select markets. And in 2018, Uber Eats started allowing orders of non-food items from convenience stores and other local businesses.
The biggest shift came in 2019, when Uber Eats began partnering with major pharmacies like NimbleRx and Medication Delivered to offer on-demand delivery of prescription and over-the-counter medications in select markets. This marked a significant leap into an entirely new regulated product category.
It was only a matter of time before Uber set its sights on alcohol and tobacco delivery to further establish itself as a one-stop shop for all sorts of goods beyond just food. In July 2020, the company took a major step in that direction by acquiring the Latin American grocery delivery startup Cornershop.
Using Cornershop for Cigarette Delivery on Uber Eats
At the time of the acquisition, Cornershop was already a leading grocery delivery platform in countries like Mexico, Chile, and Brazil. The app allows users to order all sorts of supermarket items for on-demand delivery, including fresh produce, household essentials, and yes – cigarettes and tobacco products.
By integrating Cornershop‘s inventory and delivery network into the existing Uber Eats ecosystem, Uber unlocked the ability for users to add cigarettes to their orders from participating convenience stores and markets in areas where it was permitted.
The Cornershop integration on Uber Eats launched in select cities in Latin America in 2020, and expanded to Canada later that year. In 2021, the service began rolling out in US cities like Miami, Dallas, and New York City.
As of 2024, ordering cigarettes on Uber Eats powered by Cornershop is available in over a dozen major US metro areas, with plans for continued expansion. However, exact availability still varies significantly by location based on local regulations and retailer participation.
To see if you can get cigarettes delivered by Uber where you live, open up the Uber Eats app and look for a "Grocery" or "Convenience" category among the list of store options. If Cornershop is active in your area, you‘ll be able to browse the selection of grocery stores and markets, some of which may offer tobacco products for delivery.
If a particular store has cigarettes available to order, you can simply add them to your cart like any other item, check out, and wait for your Uber driver to deliver them to your door. Just be prepared to show a valid ID to verify your age when accepting the delivery.
Demand and Market Opportunity
So just how popular is cigarette delivery, anyway? While most of the major delivery apps don‘t publicly share sales figures for specific product categories, there‘s certainly evidence to suggest strong demand.
A 2021 survey conducted by the research firm Statista found that nearly 1 in 5 cigarette smokers in the US had used an online delivery service to purchase tobacco products. For younger smokers aged 18-29, that figure jumped to over 30%.
After decades of declining smoking rates, cigarette sales actually increased in 2020 for the first time in 20 years, perhaps driven in part by the stresses of the COVID-19 pandemic. And while that uptick was relatively short-lived, the tobacco industry still generates over $90 billion in annual revenue in the US alone.
For Uber and other delivery platforms, offering cigarette delivery is a way to tap into this massive market and capture a larger share of consumer spending. By making it more convenient for smokers to get their fix without leaving home, these apps stand to boost order volumes and drive incremental revenue.
"Cigarette delivery was really a no-brainer for us to add," said a senior product manager at Uber who spoke on the condition of anonymity. "We were already delivering controlled substances like alcohol and pharmaceuticals successfully, so tobacco was a natural extension that leverages our existing identity verification flows and regulatory compliance processes."
Addressing Concerns Around Access and Public Health
Despite the clear business opportunity, the rise of cigarette delivery has also been met with concern and pushback from some public health experts and anti-smoking advocates who worry it could enable higher rates of smoking and tobacco-related illness.
"Making cigarettes available on-demand with near-instant delivery is only going to exacerbate nicotine addiction and make it that much harder for people to quit," said Dr. Amanda Graham, a clinical psychologist and chief of innovations at the anti-smoking nonprofit Truth Initiative. "It‘s a dangerous trend that puts profits over public health."
There are also valid fears that making cigarettes available for delivery could increase underage access to tobacco products. While all of the major apps have age verification safeguards in place, such as ID checks at delivery, the system isn‘t foolproof.
In 2021, an investigative report by The Markup found that it was relatively easy for minors to purchase cigarettes online by using prepaid gift cards and fake IDs. The report highlighted the need for even stronger regulations and enforcement around remote tobacco sales.
Uber and other delivery apps have emphasized their commitment to operating responsibly and in full compliance with all relevant laws around tobacco sales. In a statement provided to The Markup, an Uber spokesperson said:
"We take our responsibility to limit underage access extremely seriously. Tobacco orders on Uber Eats require an adult signature and ID check at the point of delivery, and our technology is designed to validate the authenticity of IDs. We work closely with regulators and will continue iterating on these controls to further minimize risk."
The Future of Cigarette Delivery
As a retail and consumer expert, my view is that cigarette delivery is likely here to stay given the clear consumer demand and market opportunity. However, I believe it‘s critical that it be implemented thoughtfully and with stringent safeguards to protect public health and prevent underage access.
At the same time, the onus shouldn‘t fall solely on delivery apps to police tobacco sales and use. I‘d like to see the rise of on-demand cigarette delivery be accompanied by an equally strong push around smoking cessation support and resources for those looking to quit.
We‘ll be keeping a close eye on how the availability of cigarettes on platforms like Uber Eats and DoorDash evolves over time, and the impact it ultimately has on consumer behavior and public health outcomes. Like so many convenience-driven innovations, cigarette delivery is a double-edged sword with both potential benefits and risks that need to be carefully weighed and managed going forward.
