In short – no, you cannot use food stamps (SNAP benefits) to purchase liquor or any other alcoholic beverages. Federal rules explicitly prohibit this. However, there are a few exceptions, potential loopholes, and details around this topic that are important to understand for SNAP recipients. This guide will cover everything you need to know about buying liquor with food stamps, including what is and isn’t allowed, reasons behind the rules, penalties for misuse, and more.
What are Food Stamps (SNAP Benefits)?
The Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), formerly known as food stamps, is a federal nutrition program. It provides monthly benefits to eligible low-income households to help them afford nutritious foods.
SNAP benefits are loaded onto an Electronic Benefits Transfer (EBT) card, which works like a debit card. Recipients can use their SNAP EBT cards to purchase eligible food items at approved grocery stores and other retailers.
Who is Eligible for SNAP Benefits?
To qualify for SNAP, your household’s income and resources must fall below certain limits, which vary based on your:
- Household size
- Monthly income
- Cash on hand, savings, and money in the bank
- Housing costs and utility expenses
You can check if you might be eligible by using the SNAP Pre-Screening Eligibility Tool. Those approved must also meet work requirements unless exempt due to age, disability, or other specific criteria.
What Food Items Can You Purchase with SNAP Benefits?
SNAP benefits can be used to buy a variety of food items for your household to eat, including:
👍 Meat, poultry, fish
👍 Dairy products
👍 Fruits and vegetables
👍 Breads and cereals
👍 Other grocery foods like snacks and non-alcoholic beverages
👍 Seeds and plants that produce food to grow at home
What Can’t Be Purchased with SNAP Benefits?
But there are several important exceptions – items that are NOT eligible for purchase using SNAP benefits:
👎 Beer, wine, liquor, or any other alcoholic beverages
👎 Cigarettes, tobacco, vaping products
👎 Vitamins, medicines, supplements
👎 Live animals (except shellfish, etc.)
👎 Hot prepared foods or meals
👎 Pet food
👎 Cleaning supplies, paper products, cosmetics
So clearly, liquor and alcoholic drinks are on the prohibited list when it comes to SNAP. But why exactly is that the case?
Reasons Why Liquor Is Not Allowed with SNAP Benefits
There are a few key reasons that help explain why the U.S. Department of Agriculture does not allow SNAP benefits to be used for purchasing liquor or alcoholic beverages:
- SNAP is for nutritional food assistance only. The program aims to provide nutritional support for low-income families to afford healthy foods. Alcoholic beverages have no nutritional value.
- Prevent potential abuse or misuse of funds. Allowing alcohol purchases could enable the misuse of SNAP money intended for buying foods.
- Consistency across all states. With SNAP being a federal program, the USDA sets clear universal rules that participating states must follow, including not allowing alcohol buys.
So while legislatures could debate modifying the guidelines, the intention is for SNAP to strictly provide nutritional assistance.
What if I Need Cash Assistance?
It’s important to note that some states do allow using cash benefits from other programs, like Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF), for necessities like rent, utilities, clothing, and potentially liquor.
However, TANF cash withdrawals generally cannot be restricted or monitored as easily as SNAP’s food-only system. So the specifics may vary between states when it comes to using TANF funds in certain ways.
Are There Any Exceptions or Potential Loopholes?
According to the USDA’s current guidelines and rules, there are no legitimate loopholes or exceptions that permit purchasing liquor with SNAP benefits.
You may occasionally see misinformation or claims online about policy changes that supposedly “now allow” SNAP to be used for alcohol. But those rumors tend to be inaccurate hoaxes not based on official sources.
Retailers that accept SNAP benefits, like major supermarkets that sell liquor, must follow the program’s rules. So even at an approved SNAP retailer, you still cannot use your EBT card to purchase alcoholic beverages.
What if I Try to Buy Liquor Using My SNAP EBT Card?
If you attempt to purchase liquor or alcohol using your SNAP EBT card at checkout, the transaction will simply be declined by the retailer.
SNAP benefit misuse that violates program rules can potentially lead to temporary or even permanent disqualification from receiving future SNAP benefits.
More serious incidents labeled as intentional “SNAP fraud” could open an individual up to additional penalties. This may include being required to repay misused benefits, monetary fines, and in extreme cases, potential criminal charges.
So while an isolated mistake likely won’t draw scrutiny, knowingly and repeatedly attempting to misuse benefits can have consequences.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can You Get Cash from SNAP to Buy Liquor?
No, SNAP benefits cannot be withdrawn as cash that could then be used to purchase liquor or other non-approved items. SNAP EBT cards can only be used to buy eligible food items from authorized SNAP retailers.
Is it Allowed to Use SNAP for Alcohol in Any States?
No, the prohibition on using SNAP benefits to purchase alcohol applies across all 50 U.S. states and territories. As a federal program, SNAP must follow the nationwide USDA guidelines that prohibit using funds for liquor, beer, wine or other alcoholic beverages.
Can SNAP Be Used for Restaurant Alcohol?
In most cases, no – you cannot use SNAP benefits to purchase alcohol when eating out at restaurants. Some states have special “Restaurant Meals Programs” that allow older adults, homeless people, and those with disabilities to purchase lower-cost meals at participating restaurants using SNAP benefits. However, these programs still do not permit purchasing alcoholic drinks.
Conclusion
To summarize, while some cash assistance programs may allow purchasing liquor in certain circumstances, federal SNAP benefits absolutely cannot be used to buy alcoholic beverages like liquor, beer, or wine. The USDA’s firm rules aim to ensure SNAP fulfills its intended purpose of providing healthy, nutritious foods to low-income households.
Knowingly attempting to purchase prohibited items like alcohol with SNAP funds can potentially lead to penalties or disqualification from the program. So it’s best for recipients to familiarize themselves with what is and isn’t allowed when using their EBT cards at grocery stores and other approved SNAP retailers.
If you have additional questions about SNAP eligibility, approved food items, or using your benefits properly, contact your local SNAP office or refer to the USDA’s guidelines at www.fns.usda.gov/snap.
