1. Can You Buy Alcohol with EBT?<\/strong>. <\/h2>\n\n\n\nThe goal of SNAP is to help low-income households access nutritious food, and alcohol is considered a non-essential item. You cannot use<\/strong> EBT cards to buy alcohol<\/strong> through SNAP benefits. Federal law prohibits the purchase of alcoholic beverages, such as beer, wine, and liquor, using SNAP benefits. <\/p>\n\n\n\nEven products that contain minimal or trace amounts of alcohol are often still ineligible<\/a>. This includes low-alcohol beer, dealcoholized wine, and any other food or beverage product that includes alcohol in any form. <\/p>\n\n\n\nPlease note that cooking wine, wine vinegar, and any cooking extracts are generally SNAP-eligible because they\u2019re used as ingredients in meal preparation, not consumed as standalone beverages. They are not considered alcoholic beverages.<\/p>\n\n\n\n![\"Can](\"https:\/\/airtalkwireless.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/can-you-buy-alcohol-with-ebt.jpg\")
Can you buy alcohol with EBT cash benefits? The news is No, you cannot buy alcohol with EBT.<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n2. What Drinks Can You Buy with EBT?<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\nIt\u2019s certain that you cannot buy any type of alcohol with EBT cards, but you can purchase many other beverages. Here\u2019s a list of beverages you can often buy with your SNAP benefits <\/p>\n\n\n\n
\n- Milk and milk alternatives: <\/strong>soy milk, oat milk, and more <\/li>\n\n\n\n
- Juices: <\/strong>100% fruit and vegetable juices (orange juice, apple juice, etc.) <\/li>\n\n\n\n
- Bottled water<\/strong> <\/li>\n\n\n\n
- Coffee and tea (non-prepared): <\/strong>ground coffee, tea bags, etc. These are EBT-eligible if you\u2019re buying them in packaged form to prepare at home. However, you cannot use EBT to buy hot coffee or tea from a restaurant or caf\u00e9. <\/li>\n\n\n\n
- Infant and pediatric drinks: <\/strong>Infant formula, etc. <\/li>\n\n\n\n
- Sports and energy drinks <\/strong>with a Nutrition Facts label. Drinks with \u201cSupplement Facts\u201d labels are not EBT-eligible. <\/li>\n\n\n\n
- Sodas and soft drinks<\/strong> <\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n
In general, a drink has a \u201cNutrition Facts\u201d label (instead of a \u201cSupplement Facts\u201d label), and is intended to be consumed at home, it\u2019s usually eligible for purchase with EBT. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
However, several states are moving to limit what can be purchased with SNAP benefits, with a growing focus on sugary drinks and other processed foods. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
\n- Nebraska<\/a> became the first state to receive a USDA waiver to ban sugary drink purchases with SNAP benefits. <\/li>\n\n\n\n
- Iowa and Indiana received similar approvals. <\/li>\n\n\n\n
- Nebraska’s waiver targets soda and energy drinks <\/li>\n\n\n\n
- Iowa’s bans most “taxable” food items under state law <\/li>\n\n\n\n
- Illinois also plans to restrict soda and candy purchases. <\/li>\n\n\n\n
- Arkansas, Texas, and West Virginia<\/a> have submitted waiver requests still awaiting USDA decisions. <\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n
![\"can](\"https:\/\/airtalkwireless.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/can-you-buy-alcohol-with-ebt-3.jpg\")
You cannot buy any type of alcohol with EBT, but you can purchase many other beverages.<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n3. Other Surprising Things You Can and Cannot Buy with EBT<\/strong> <\/h2>\n\n\n\nThe list of what qualifies as \u201cfood\u201d under the program includes many unexpected items<\/a>. And just as importantly, some products people assume are eligible are actually not. <\/p>\n\n\n\nHere are some surprising things you can buy with food stamps that are commonly misunderstood but are EBT-eligible: <\/p>\n\n\n\n
\n- Seeds and food-producing plants <\/li>\n\n\n\n
- Snack foods and bakery sweets (candy, cake, ice cream, and soda): While some states are exploring ways to limit these options, just mentioned above, they’re currently allowed in most places. <\/li>\n\n\n\n
- Baking ingredients (sugar, flour, baking powder, cocoa) <\/li>\n\n\n\n
- Seafood (fresh or frozen fish, shellfish) <\/li>\n\n\n\n
- Baby food and formula <\/li>\n\n\n\n
- Restaurant meals (for some states): If you\u2019re elderly, disabled, or homeless and your state participates in the Restaurant Meals Program (RMP<\/a>), you may be able to buy hot prepared meals at approved restaurants. <\/li>\n\n\n\n
- Protein powder and shakes<\/a> (Only those with a “Nutrition Facts” label are SNAP-eligible) <\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n
What can you not buy with EBT? The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) specifically lists alcohol as an ineligible purchase, along with other restricted items: <\/p>\n\n\n\n
\n- Tobacco products (cigarettes, cigars) <\/li>\n\n\n\n
- Vitamins<\/a> and supplements <\/li>\n\n\n\n
- Pet food <\/li>\n\n\n\n
- Cleaning and household supplies <\/li>\n\n\n\n
- Hot, prepared foods: Foods meant to be eaten on-site or served hot are not SNAP-eligible in many states (unless you qualify for the Restaurant Meals Program). <\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n
4. How Lifeline Connects EBT Users to More Benefits<\/strong> <\/h2>\n\n\n\nLifeline is a long-running federal program that makes phone and internet services more affordable for low-income individuals. And the good news is that if you’re an EBT user, you likely already meet the eligibility requirements to get Lifeline benefits<\/a>, too.<\/p>\n\n\n\n![\"AirTalk](\"https:\/\/airtalkwireless.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/airtalk-wireless-free-phone-1024x710.jpg\")
Using food stamps participation, you can get a free phone with Lifeline program through providers like AirTalk Wireless.<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\nLifeline provides a monthly discount of up to $9.25 on phone or internet services for eligible households. For qualifying residents living on Tribal lands, that discount increases to $34.25 per month. Depending on the provider and your plan, you will also get: <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Even products that contain minimal or trace amounts of alcohol are often still ineligible<\/a>. This includes low-alcohol beer, dealcoholized wine, and any other food or beverage product that includes alcohol in any form. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Please note that cooking wine, wine vinegar, and any cooking extracts are generally SNAP-eligible because they\u2019re used as ingredients in meal preparation, not consumed as standalone beverages. They are not considered alcoholic beverages.<\/p>\n\n\n\n It\u2019s certain that you cannot buy any type of alcohol with EBT cards, but you can purchase many other beverages. Here\u2019s a list of beverages you can often buy with your SNAP benefits <\/p>\n\n\n\n In general, a drink has a \u201cNutrition Facts\u201d label (instead of a \u201cSupplement Facts\u201d label), and is intended to be consumed at home, it\u2019s usually eligible for purchase with EBT. <\/p>\n\n\n\n However, several states are moving to limit what can be purchased with SNAP benefits, with a growing focus on sugary drinks and other processed foods. <\/p>\n\n\n\n The list of what qualifies as \u201cfood\u201d under the program includes many unexpected items<\/a>. And just as importantly, some products people assume are eligible are actually not. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Here are some surprising things you can buy with food stamps that are commonly misunderstood but are EBT-eligible: <\/p>\n\n\n\n What can you not buy with EBT? The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) specifically lists alcohol as an ineligible purchase, along with other restricted items: <\/p>\n\n\n\n Lifeline is a long-running federal program that makes phone and internet services more affordable for low-income individuals. And the good news is that if you’re an EBT user, you likely already meet the eligibility requirements to get Lifeline benefits<\/a>, too.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Lifeline provides a monthly discount of up to $9.25 on phone or internet services for eligible households. For qualifying residents living on Tribal lands, that discount increases to $34.25 per month. Depending on the provider and your plan, you will also get: <\/p>\n\n\n\n2. What Drinks Can You Buy with EBT?<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n
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3. Other Surprising Things You Can and Cannot Buy with EBT<\/strong> <\/h2>\n\n\n\n
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4. How Lifeline Connects EBT Users to More Benefits<\/strong> <\/h2>\n\n\n\n