Can you buy soda with SNAP?

Yes, you can generally buy soda and other nonalcoholic drinks like juice, sparkling water, and energy drinks with SNAP benefits (also called food stamps).

However, some states have passed laws that restrict or ban the use of SNAP benefits to buy soda and other sweetened drinks, with changes starting in 2026.

Whether soda is SNAP-eligible now depends on where you live.

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Which states are restricting soda purchases with SNAP?#which-states-are-restricting-soda-purchases-with-snap

In some states, new laws now prevent you from using your SNAP benefits to buy soda and other “soft drinks.”

Here are the states that have approved SNAP bans on soda and other “ junk foods” as of January 2026. Keep in mind that more states may follow, and implementation dates can change.

• Arkansas: SNAP benefits can’t be used to buy soda, low and no-calorie soda, fruit and vegetable drinks with less than 50% natural juice, unhealthy drinks, and candy starting July 1, 2026.
• Colorado: Beginning March 1, 2026, SNAP benefits can no longer be used to buy “soft drinks,” meaning sweetened nonalcoholic beverages, like soda, won’t be SNAP-eligible.
• Florida: You can no longer buy soda, energy drinks, candy, and prepared desserts with your SNAP benefits starting April 20, 2026.
• Hawaii: SNAP recipients won't be able to use benefits to buy “soft drinks,” any nonalcoholic beverage that is made with carbonated water and is sweetened with more than 10 grams of sugar per serving, starting August 1, 2026.
• Idaho: Beginning February 15, 2026, soda and candy will no longer be SNAP-eligible.
• Indiana: “Soft drinks,” meaning beverages that contain natural or artificial sweeteners, and candy, will be banned from purchase with SNAP on January 1, 2026.
• Iowa: Starting January 1, 2026, SNAP benefits can’t be used to buy “soft drinks”, like soda, lemonade, ginger ale, root beer, and orangeade. Shoppers will also not be allowed to use their SNAP benefits to buy any food item that is considered taxable in Iowa.
• Louisiana: Beginning February 18, 2026, SNAP benefits can’t be used to buy soft drinks, energy drinks, and candy.
• Missouri: Candy, prepared desserts, and certain unhealthy beverages (including some soft drinks and energy drinks) will be restricted from SNAP purchase beginning October 1, 2026.
• Nebraska: As of January 1, 2026, SNAP benefits cannot be used to buy soda, "soft drinks," and energy drinks.
• North Dakota: Starting September 1, 2026, SNAP will restrict the purchase of soft drinks, energy drinks, and candy.
• Oklahoma: From February 15, 2026, SNAP recipients won’t be able to use benefits to buy “soft drinks” and candy.
• South Carolina: Soft drinks, energy drinks, candy, and other sweetened beverages will no longer be SNAP-eligible starting on August 31, 2026.
• Tennessee: SNAP can no longer be used to buy processed foods and beverages such as soda, energy drinks, and candy beginning July 31, 2026.
• Texas: As of April 1, 2026, SNAP benefits can’t be used to buy sweetened drinks (nonalcoholic beverages made with water that contain five grams or more of added sugar or any amount of artificial sweetener) and candy.
• Utah: Carbonated drinks sweetened with sugar or artificial sweeteners, which could include sodas and diet sodas, are no longer SNAP eligible starting January 1, 2026.
• Virginia: Starting April 1, 2026, “sweetened beverages” will no longer be SNAP-eligible. These are drinks made with carbonated water that are flavored or sweetened with sugar or artificial sweeteners. This can include regular and diet soda, pop, soft drinks, and energy drinks.
• West Virginia: SNAP recipients won’t be able to use benefits to buy soda, pop, or other carbonated sweetened drinks beginning January 1, 2026.

What you can and can’t buy with SNAP#what-you-can-and-cant-buy-with-snap

With these new state restrictions on soda, sweetened beverages, and certain food items, it’s helpful to understand the overall rules for what SNAP benefits can buy.

SNAP is meant to help low-income American families supplement their grocery budget. You can use your SNAP benefits to buy most groceries, including dairy products (like milk and cheese), fruits and vegetables, beans and nuts, snack foods (like chips and cookies), bread, pasta, and other types of grains.

Under federal USDA rules, you can also use your SNAP benefits to buy most cold drinks, including soda, energy drinks, juice and juice concentrates, sparkling and bottled water, cold coffee drinks, and seltzer—unless your state has passed specific restrictions.

Items that aren’t SNAP-eligible anywhere include hot foods, alcoholic beverages (even if you’re going to use them for cooking), tobacco products, pet food, and any “non-food” items, including vitamins and supplements, medicine, paper products like toilet paper or paper towels, baby wipes and diapers, cleaning products, and toiletries.