by Serolynne
Question by : How come you can buy soda and coffee with EBT but not Energy drinks and 5 hour energy?
It seems like energy drinks would be allowed since you can buy mountain dew and ground coffee.
I’ve already tried to buy Monster and Red Bull with the EBT and it was denied.
Best answer:
Answer by Alisa
energy drinks and shots have so much more caffeine and sugar than coffe & soda that its not allowed on ebt.
Give your answer to this question below!
Well the EBT is monitored by the dept. of human resources, and they really like people to buy food that is good and nutritious, and that lasts. Soda is a tasty drink and is considered a grocery just like anything else sold at a grocery store. The energy drinks are more vitamins and stuff like that so they dont qualify as drink, they are more pharmaceutical. I think this is why they dont cover it. Its considered a vitamin type drink instead of a juice or a soda.
You can only buy energy drinks that have a ‘Nutrition Facts’ label. If the energy drink has a ‘Supplement Facts’ label, it’s considered a supplement, and not permitted on EBT, just as you can’t buy dietary supplements such as vitamins.
http://www.fns.usda.gov/snap/retailers/eligible.htm
You can buy an energy drink like red bull – the operating word is DRINK. Five hour energy is not a drink it’s a supplement.
Because you can’t. Does there need to be a reason? No. Be thankful you have free food money. They are food stamps. Not caffeine buzz stamps.