SNAP

Can you buy alcohol with EBT?

A sign saying "We accept SNAP" against a purple background
Image of Rachael Brennan
Image of Rachael Brennan

No, SNAP benefits can’t be used to buy any type of alcohol, including beer, wine, hard seltzer and liquor. You can’t even use your EBT card to buy alcohol you plan to cook with, like cooking sherry or an airplane-sized bottle of vodka for making a vodka sauce.

Any SNAP benefits you get through your EBT account have to be used on eligible groceries, which does include non-alcoholic cold drinks like bottled water, soda, juice, or seltzer. Here's what you need to know about what you can and cannot buy with your EBT benefits.

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Why can’t you buy alcohol with your EBT card?#why-cant-you-buy-alcohol-with-your-ebt-card

If you get SNAP benefits, the money that gets deposited in your EBT account is meant to supplement your monthly grocery budget.

There are specific rules about what is and isn’t SNAP-eligible, but generally the only things you can buy are the types of foods and drinks that stock your fridge and pantry—that’s why hot food that you eat right away isn’t SNAP-eligible (with the exception of the restaurant meals program) and neither is alcohol.

What else does SNAP not cover?#what-else-does-snap-not-cover

An image showing items that are not SNAP-eligible, including hot rotisserie chicken, medicines, pet food, and paper towels

If you get SNAP benefits, alcohol like beer, wine, liquor, or hard seltzer aren’t the only thing you can’t buy with your EBT card. SNAP benefits also do not cover:

  • Cigarettes or other tobacco products
  • Vitamins, medicines, and supplements
  • Live animals (with very few exceptions, like shellfish)
  • Any food that’s hot when you buy it, like a prepared rotisserie chicken
  • Pet food or treats
  • Cleaning supplies like wipes or cleaning spray
  • Hygiene items like tampons, soap, or deodorant
  • Paper products like toilet paper or paper towels
  • Diapers
  • Any other non-food item, like clothing or toys

What foods are covered by SNAP?#what-foods-are-covered-by-snap

An image showing items that are SNAP-eligible, including carrots, soda, cereal, eggs, and canned fish

Your SNAP benefits can be used for a long list of eligible grocery items, including:

  • Fruits and vegetables, whether canned, frozen, or fresh
  • Meat
  • Fish and seafood, both frozen and fresh
  • Dairy products like milk, cheese, and yogurt
  • Breads and cereals
  • Grains like rice, barley, and quinoa
  • Cereal
  • Frozen food, including pizza
  • Snacks, like chips, popcorn, and candy
  • Cold drinks, like soda and juice
  • Seeds and plants that can grow food for the household

What drinks can you buy with EBT?#what-drinks-can-you-buy-with-ebt

Even though you can’t buy alcohol (or hot coffee) with your EBT benefits, there are plenty of beverages you can purchase with your EBT card.

Cold drinks are SNAP-eligible, so an iced coffee, fruit smoothie, bottled water, or a fountain soda would all be covered by your EBT benefits.

You can also buy the ingredients to make hot beverages at home, which means you can buy tea bags, hot cocoa mix, or coffee, including whole beans, pre-ground coffee, or pods.