Chesapeake families who use Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits will no longer be able to buy soda or carbonated energy drinks with those benefits starting Sunday, Nov. 1.
The Virginia Department of Social Services (VDSS) announced the change, which applies to all SNAP purchases at Virginia retailers. SNAP provides monthly food benefits to eligible low-income individuals and families.
The restriction covers regular soda, diet soda, zero-sugar soda, carbonated energy drinks and other carbonated beverages with five or more grams of added sugar per serving, according to VDSS. Drinks containing artificial sweeteners may also be restricted.
Most noncarbonated drinks are not affected, regardless of sugar content. Lemonade, iced tea, juice, iced coffee, milk and milk alternatives, yogurt drinks, infant formula, kombucha, unsweetened seltzer, noncarbonated energy drinks and meal replacement shakes all remain eligible.
That distinction has drawn attention. A 12-ounce can of Coke and 12 ounces of lemonade contain roughly the same amount of sugar, Jamie Zoellner, a University of Virginia professor of public health sciences, told Fox Richmond. She said carbonation alone is not typically responsible for health risks associated with sugary beverages.
Zoellner said it remains to be seen whether the policy will produce measurable improvements in diets and health. SNAP recipients can still buy restricted drinks with cash, debit cards or other non-SNAP payment methods.
What shoppers need to know
Monthly SNAP benefit amounts will not change. Recipients do not need to take action to prepare for the beverage restrictions. Retailers are responsible for updating their checkout systems to flag restricted items, according to VDSS.
Shoppers can still buy restricted beverages in the same transaction as eligible items. They will need another form of payment for the restricted drinks. The policy does not change which food items are SNAP-eligible.
The restrictions apply to SNAP purchases at Virginia retailers, even when shoppers use EBT cards issued by another state.
How the policy came about
Virginia requested a federal waiver on Nov. 4, 2025, to exclude certain sweetened carbonated beverages from SNAP-eligible purchases. The U.S. Department of Agriculture approved the request on Dec. 10, 2025, as a demonstration project.
Federal officials subsequently approved changes to the implementation schedule. VDSS now identifies Nov. 1, 2026, as the effective date.
The project applies to SNAP purchases throughout Virginia. Households cannot opt out of the beverage restrictions while using their benefits at participating retailers in the state.
Regional food insecurity context
The policy arrives as food insecurity remains a concern across Virginia, including the Hampton Roads region.
The Federation of Virginia Food Banks released the 2026 Virginia Hunger Study in September, drawing on interviews with more than 5,600 Virginians. The study found that 42% of Virginia households experienced food insecurity at some point between May 2025 and May 2026.
More than one-quarter of households experienced very low food security, according to the Virginia Department of Social Services.
The Federation also reported that SNAP participation in Virginia declined by more than 130,000 people following the enactment of H.R. 1 in July 2025.
Local resources
Chesapeake residents can apply for SNAP online through CommonHelp and the city's financial assistance services or call 855-635-4370.
The Chesapeake Division of Social Services office is at 100 Outlaw Street, Chesapeake, VA 23320. Residents can call 757-382-2000 for information about local assistance programs.
