RICHMOND, Va. (WWBT) – Virginia families receiving SNAP benefits will face new restrictions on what they can purchase beginning in the new year, as the state moves to ban sweetened drinks from the program.
State leaders said the goal is to promote healthier eating and empower Virginians to lead healthier lives.
Some people agree with the message but are not entirely sure this is the way to do it.
Several states are banning certain junk food items from SNAP coverage, from things like candy to desserts. But in the commonwealth, officials are focused on sweetened drinks to help promote healthier eating.
“I think it’s a great thing to encourage of course you want healthier options for everybody,” said John Rebillot, a Virginia resident.
“It doesn’t seem like soda is apart of a healthy diet or one that we would want to promote for anyone,” said Lee Hefner, a Virginia resident.
Next year, Virginians will not be able to use their benefits to buy sweetened drinks.
The change comes after a waiver Virginia leaders submitted last month.
The restriction is part of the Make America Healthy Again initiative.
“If you want to buy a sugary soda, you ought to be able to do that. But U.S. taxpayers should not pay for it,” said Robert F. Kennedy Jr., U.S. Secretary of Health and Human Services.
The restriction applies to anything made from carbonated water and flavored or sweetened with added sugar or artificial sweeteners, including sodas, soft drinks and energy drinks.
While some say encouraging a healthy diet is a good thing, they are not sure this is the way to go about it.
“I am a little uncomfortable with too much government overreach with what people do with their personal lives and bodies,” Hefner said.
“I’m not sure you can legislate that choice per se,” said Rebillot.
Moving forward, the big question is whether this will be effective.
“We don’t know yet, we’ll have to wait and see what the results are,” Rebillot said.
The restrictions will not go into effect immediately. They will officially start on April 1, 2026.
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