Effective January 1, 2026, all SNAP retailers must comply with the West Virginia Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) Healthy Choices waiver by not allowing soda to be purchased with SNAP benefits. For the purpose of this waiver, soda is defined as any carbonated non-alcoholic beverage that contains water, a sweetening agent (including but not limited to sugar, high-fructose corn syrup, or artificial sweeteners), flavoring, and carbon dioxide gas to create carbonation. This term includes beverages with added caffeine or other ingredients but does not include carbonated water without sweeteners or flavoring. Retailers should complete the attestation form after updating their point of sale systems. The form should be returned to bfasnapretailer@wv.gov. The retailer attestation form can be found here.
SIGNAGE
SNAP retailers may also utilize the soda waiver signage linked below (click to download):
SNAP Healthy Choices Soda Waiver Retailer Flyer 1
SNAP Healthy Choices Soda Waiver Retailer Flyer 2
SNAP Healthy Choices Soda Waiver Retailer Flyer 3
PRE-IMPLEMENTATION SURVEY
SNAP retailers are encouraged to use the QR code or link below to access and complete the SNAP Retailer Healthy Choices Soda Waiver Pre-Implementation Survey. Retailers play a key role in implementing the soda restriction, and their experiences provide important information for evaluation. Completion of the pre-implementation survey will ensure that DoHS's evaluation captures both program compliance and the broader economic dimensions of the new policy.
Survey Link: https://forms.gle/APPEWng1Z6sqGofb7
Deadline: December 31, 2025
training
Click here to download the WV SNAP Healthy Choices Soda Waiver Training for SNAP Retailers.
Linked below is a YouTube video version of the training:
