Walmart will stop selling e-cigarettes in its stores due to “regulatory complexity” and “uncertainty” in the industry, according to an internal memo seen by CNBC. Flavored e-cigarettes may be banned federally due to high teen vaping rates, and some cities and states are pursuing their own measures.
“Given the growing federal, state and local regulatory complexity and uncertainty regarding e-cigarettes, we plan to discontinue the sale of electronic nicotine delivery products at all Walmart and Sam’s Club U.S. locations,” said the retail giant in the memo distributed to local managers. “We will complete our exit after selling through current inventory.”
Walmart raised the age for buying tobacco to 21 earlier this year following similar moves by Walgreens and Rite Aid. The age requirement hasn’t been applied to e-cigarettes, however, and their use among teens rose by more than 75% since 2018, which has been described by the FDA as an “epidemic.”
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Additionally, health officials are blaming vaping as the cause of an unknown lung disease that has sickened 530 people and killed eight, though they have not identified one brand or substance as the cause. Most patients reported using THC, though others say they only vaped nicotine, according to reports.
Walmart hasn’t been afraid to discontinue sales in response to national events. The retailer discontinued all sales of short-barrel rifle ammunition that can be used with military-style weapons, as well as handgun and handgun ammunition sales in Alaska, in September. The company also banned open carry weapons in its stores, a move that was replicated by Kroger.
