Starting November 1, SNAP Shoppers in Montana, North Dakota, South Carolina and Virginia Can No Longer Buy Sugary Drinks
Starting November 1, shoppers using SNAP benefits in Montana, North Dakota, South Carolina, and Virginia will face new restrictions on certain beverages and, in some states, additional foods. But there is an important distinction: these rules affect what SNAP benefits can pay for. They do not prevent shoppers from buying the products with other forms of payment.
The four states are scheduled to begin their changes on the same date, but the rules are not identical. Virginia restricts diet and zero-sugar soda, for example, while South Carolina specifically says those drinks remain eligible for SNAP purchases.
What changes on November 1
The USDA’s current tracker lists November 1, 2026, as the target implementation date for all four states. Several earlier materials carried different dates, making the current federal tracker and updated state guidance especially important for shoppers trying to understand when the changes take effect.
These are state-specific SNAP purchasing restrictions, not a nationwide change to the program. Each state has its own list of restricted products and exceptions.
That means a drink that cannot be purchased with SNAP benefits in one state may still be eligible in another.
Related: “Don’t Apply for SNAP Without These 8 Key Documents”
Montana restricts more than beverages
Montana’s updated guidance goes beyond drinks. Beginning November 1, the state identifies four restricted categories: candy, high-sugar beverages, specified energy drinks, and shelf-stable prepared desserts.
For high-sugar beverages, Montana defines the restricted category as containing more than 10 grams of added sugar per eight fluid ounces. That does not mean every beverage containing sugar is automatically excluded.
Montana also identifies exceptions, including milk and milk alternatives, coffee and tea, certain juice blends, meal-replacement drinks and specified medical electrolyte beverages.
The state says the change does not reduce monthly SNAP benefits or alter general financial eligibility.
North Dakota covers sweetened drinks, energy drinks and candy
North Dakota’s restrictions also cover several beverage categories along with candy and energy drinks. Official examples include soda, sweetened tea, sweetened lemonade, sports and electrolyte drinks, and bottled coffee drinks with added sugar.
The state’s public materials contain inconsistent wording around a five-gram threshold, so shoppers should not rely on a simplified sugar formula to determine whether an individual product qualifies.
North Dakota’s retailer guidance also says the restrictions apply to SNAP purchases at North Dakota retailers regardless of which state issued the benefits. That is a specific North Dakota rule and should not automatically be applied to the other states.
South Carolina allows diet and zero-sugar soda
South Carolina’s restrictions include candy, energy drinks, soft drinks, and sweetened beverages. But its household guidance makes an important distinction: diet and zero-sugar soft drinks remain eligible for SNAP purchases.
The state also identifies exceptions that include milk-based beverages, certain juice beverages, infant formula, sports or rehydration drinks, carbonated water, and specified medical nutrition products.
That creates a clear contrast with Virginia, where diet and zero-sugar soda are included among the restricted beverages.
Virginia focuses on carbonated drinks
Virginia’s SNAP restrictions include regular soda, diet soda, zero-sugar soda, and carbonated energy drinks.
At the same time, Virginia lists lemonade, juice, iced tea, iced coffee, milk alternatives, noncarbonated energy drinks, and meal-replacement drinks as eligible examples.
The state says the changes do not alter SNAP participation eligibility or benefit amounts.
For shoppers, the practical lesson is that the phrase “sugary drinks” does not describe Virginia’s rules completely. Some drinks without added sugar are also included, while other sweetened beverages remain eligible under the state’s guidance.
Why the state lists matter
The differences become easier to see when common drinks are compared.
Diet and zero-sugar soda are restricted in Virginia but explicitly allowed in South Carolina. Sports and electrolyte drinks are listed among restricted examples in North Dakota, while Virginia and South Carolina guidance includes eligible or excepted versions.
Sweetened tea and lemonade provide another example. North Dakota lists them among restricted examples, while Virginia lists iced tea and lemonade as eligible.
Montana’s rules also go beyond beverages by including candy and shelf-stable prepared desserts.
These differences mean shoppers should check the guidance for the state where they are making the SNAP purchase instead of assuming a product’s eligibility is the same everywhere.
What shoppers should check before buying
The safest way to avoid confusion at checkout is to use the current guidance from the state where the SNAP purchase is being made.
A product’s broad category may not tell the whole story because states have different definitions and exceptions. The same general type of beverage can therefore have different SNAP eligibility depending on the state.
The November 1 date is shared by Montana, North Dakota, South Carolina, and Virginia, but there is no single four-state shopping list.
For SNAP shoppers, the change is about how benefits can be used, not whether the products themselves can be purchased. Customers who want an item that is restricted for SNAP payment can still purchase it using another form of payment.
The key takeaway is simple: check the state-specific rules before shopping. Montana, North Dakota, South Carolina, and Virginia are making changes on the same date, but what counts as an eligible SNAP purchase will depend on the state’s individual restrictions and exceptions.
