this post was submitted on 29 Jul 2025
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221
US states sue Trump administration over demand to collect Snap recipients’ private data (www.theguardian.com)
submitted 3 weeks ago by Midnight@slrpnk.net to c/news@lemmy.world
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[–] over_clox@lemmy.world 11 points 3 weeks ago (4 children)

Fun fact: At least in Louisiana, possibly some other states as well, you can actually buy beer with SNAP benefits.

Not saying I approve of that, SNAP is intended to buy food and water, just saying that's a thing in some states. 🤷

Still, if I had SNAP benefits (I don't, but I have before), it's none of Turnip's business if I wanted to get a 6 pack of beer.

[–] NocturnalMorning@lemmy.world 18 points 3 weeks ago (3 children)

Isn't the point of SNAP to help people? If they need help with their bills, enough to need SNAP, who cares if they use it on beer once in a while. Nobody bats an eye at me for buying beer on the weekend, but suddenly if you receive SNAP assistance its an unholy sin to want to unwind after a long week? That doesn't jive with me.

[–] bassomitron@lemmy.world 9 points 3 weeks ago

The name of the program is called Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program. Alcohol isn't needed for survival and is therefore outside the scope of that program. I'm actually quite surprised some states allow it to be used for booze.

I don't necessarily disagree with you, fwiw, just pointing out why most states don't allow it to be used for that.

[–] Mirshe@lemmy.world 5 points 3 weeks ago

It's the puritanical Christianity (no alcohol ever - there's a lot of people who want to go back to a more strict and all encompassing form of Prohibition) mixing with prosperity gospel Christianity (you can't be poor if God is happy with you, and poor people must be sinning or somehow wrong with God).

[–] Eheran@lemmy.world -5 points 3 weeks ago (1 children)

I doubt the issue would be a "once in a while" situation.

[–] forrgott@lemmy.sdf.org 4 points 3 weeks ago (1 children)

Ah, so if you receive SNAP and drink, you must be an alcoholic? Cause if you only drank socially, you wouldn't be poor?

[–] AA5B@lemmy.world 2 points 3 weeks ago (1 children)

If you need help covering your basic food intake, it’s a poor choice to spend it on a “luxury”. Or if you can afford to waste money on a luxury, you clearly don’t need help with your basic food intake take.

Yeah that ignores that people aren’t machines, but there’s a logic to it, ven without blaming it on puritanism

[–] otter@lemmy.dbzer0.com 2 points 3 weeks ago (1 children)

You're forgetting that alcohol is also a vice. It's a known variable that even in times of strife and uncertainty, vice still sells — if not more so. They're commenting on the embedded messaging of too-poor-to-deserve-it that fosters divisiveness among us poors.

[–] AA5B@lemmy.world 1 points 3 weeks ago (1 children)

Right I was trying to get that across. Their logic is why should you waste my money on something not required to live. But the answer is because I’m human.

[–] otter@lemmy.dbzer0.com 2 points 3 weeks ago

Apologies, I misread the first bit as a statement not a quote. We're on the same page.

[–] hopesdead@startrek.website 2 points 3 weeks ago (1 children)

Having worked in a retail environment that sells food, I have been told they can’t be used for hot prepared food. This is California. Somehow I am seeing fast food restaurants display signs saying they accept EBT now.

[–] over_clox@lemmy.world 6 points 3 weeks ago (1 children)

This is true in Mississippi as well, you can't use SNAP benefits to buy hot food.

I have however heard that some locations manage to circumvent this by technically selling the food while still cold before it's cooked, then going ahead and cooking it for you anyways.

[–] otter@lemmy.dbzer0.com 2 points 3 weeks ago

[A large chain grocery brand] in a number of cities along the West Coast is known to do this, though I hesitate to make that widely known, in case that risks it continuing. 🙇🏽‍♂️

[–] LilB0kChoy@piefed.social 1 points 3 weeks ago

Maybe there is a lot of Sumerians in Louisiana?

[–] TimewornTraveler@lemmy.dbzer0.com -4 points 3 weeks ago* (last edited 3 weeks ago) (1 children)

"yeah, I should be able to buy drugs with my welfare money"

-you, a fool raised by a culture that drinks poison for fun

the programs are fucking drowning and you all want to buy etoh with it? are you kidding me?

what do yall think of nicotine?? should we buy that with snap too? cuz when i read lemmy posts about nicotine, you all act like it's the worst thing on earth. but it's just another poison like etoh, one that we have no business spending public funding on when there are families barely affording essential groceries for their kids and a congress trying to get rid of the few bucks they do make

really the problem with all this shit is how SS is essentially govt enforced poverty. In the 70s they'd pay for your education just to get you off of it. now they take away your EBT if you make too much money

[–] over_clox@lemmy.world 3 points 3 weeks ago (1 children)

What the fuck does nicotine have anything to do with this discussion?

I just got threatened by a guest in my own apartment for looking to recycle old lithium batteries today.

Ain't no fucking body trying to buy cigarettes off of SNAP.

You can literally go fuckoff.

[–] TimewornTraveler@lemmy.dbzer0.com 2 points 3 weeks ago* (last edited 3 weeks ago) (1 children)

it's part of a broader conversation on attitudes towards substance use on lemmy. I'm saying i see inconsistency in the attitudes in lemmy between one drug and another, such that alcohol = good drug; nicotine = bad drug. and we seem to see no hypocrisy with this!

none of you seem to consider alcohol a drug. I'm absolutely disgusted that you guys think you should be able to buy drugs with money intended to prevent starvation. YOU can fuck right off with that.

how about heroin, you wanna buy dope with food stamps too? fuck. off. WHY is alcohol so special that you think beer with food stamps is okay?

if you can't see how bringing up other drugs proves this point, then you might be an addict.

[–] over_clox@lemmy.world 1 points 3 weeks ago

Homie, where I'm from, beer is cheaper than good clean filtered water, and is far safer than plain tap water.

Yes I drink beer. No I do not have SNAP benefits. Even if I did, I live in a state where you cannot purchase beer with SNAP.

If someone can just riddle me why the hell beer is cheaper than filtered water, and do something about that, I'll gladly switch back to water.