Starting in the spring of 2026, Colorado will test a new rule that changes what you can buy with your SNAP benefits (EBT card). This test focuses entirely on “soft drinks.”
Who is Affected?
Everyone who uses SNAP in the state of Colorado will be affected. There is no way to opt-out. You cannot choose to skip this rule. It applies to 100% of shoppers using SNAP in the state.
What is Changing?
Starting March 1, 2026, your EBT card will no longer pay for “soft drinks.” If you want to buy these items, you will need to use your own cash or debit card.
This state has a very specific definition of what constitutes a “soft drink.” The rule defines a soft drink as any non-alcoholic drink that has natural or artificial sweeteners. This includes:
- Regular Soda: Coke, Pepsi, Mountain Dew, Root Beer, etc.
- Diet Soda: Because the ban includes “artificial sweeteners,” diet drinks are also banned.
- Sweetened Teas & Coffees: Bottled iced teas or coffees that have added sugar and do not have milk.
- Sports & Energy Drinks: If they have added sugar or sweeteners and no milk/juice content.
Colorado has very specific exceptions. Many sweet drinks are actually still allowed if they contain milk or at least 50% juice. For example, chocolate milk and 100% juice will still be approved for purchase with SNAP. It’s OK even if the product contains a milk substitute like soy milk, rice milk or other substitutes.
What Stays the Same?
It is important to know that most of your grocery shopping will not change. You can still buy all the healthy staples you need.
- Most food is still OK. You can use your SNAP card to purchase all the basics, including:
- Fruits and vegetables
- Meat, poultry and fish
- Dairy products
- Breads and cereals
- Snack foods
- Seeds and plants that produce food you can eat
- Candy is still OK. Other states have started banning candy but Colorado has not taken that step yet.
- Milk and milk substitutes are allowed. If a drink contains milk, soy, rice, or other milk substitutes, it is allowed.
- Fruit Juice (More than 50%): If a drink has more than 50% vegetable or fruit juice, it is allowed.
- Water: Plain bottled water is allowed.
Things You Need to Know
There is a lot of information contained in Colorado’s 8-page waiver approval from the USDA. Here are some of the highlights that you should know:
- Out-of-State Shopping: The state will track if people go to neighboring states (like Kansas or Wyoming) to buy soda. This is allowed. It is not fraud to shop across state lines; they are just counting the numbers for their report.
- Voluntary Surveys: You may be asked to take a survey about your shopping. You have the right to say “no,” and losing your benefits will not be a penalty.
- Privacy: All reports sent to the government will remove your personal name and information. States are not supposed to share your personally identifiable information (PII) with the federal government as part of these waivers.
How to Prepare
The change starts March 1, 2026. Here is how to get ready.
- Check the “Juice Percentage”: Look at the label on fruit punches or lemonades. If it says “Contains 10% Juice” or “50% Juice,” it is likely banned if it has added sugar. You need to look for more than 50% juice.
- Look for Milk Content: If you buy bottled coffees or smoothies, check the ingredients. If “milk” or “soy” is listed, it should still be SNAP-eligible after the change.
- No Need to Separate: Just like in other states, the store’s computer will do the work. You do not need to put sodas in a separate pile. The register will automatically deduct the eligible food and leave the “soft drinks” for you to pay with cash.
Relief Recap
This ban is strictly for sodas and sweetened drinks that don’t have milk or mostly juice—candy and all food items are still safe to buy. You have until March 2026 to prepare, so just remember: if it’s a bubbly sugary drink, bring a little extra cash.
This article was produced with help from AI tools. It was fully fact-checked by Nicole Thelin prior to publication.