Rules by country / United States
Which US food and beverage rules change your prices?
Pick what you sell. You see only the rules that hit you, what each one means for your prices, and how we help.
5 rules change prices for US food and drink
Coming next first. Open a rule for the detail and our service.
2026 to 2028State by state SNAP soda and candy limitsSNAP benefits can no longer pay for soda, and in most of these states candy, in a growing list of states. 19 stateswith limits in force or starting by 2028 Our serviceRange and price reviewfrom £7,500
Eight states started in 2026. Montana, North Dakota, South Carolina and Virginia follow on 1 November 2026, then seven more by February 2028.
Soda, candy and energy drink brands with many SNAP shoppers. A court blocked the limits in Colorado, Iowa, Tennessee and West Virginia in June 2026.
How to price and promote in the states affected, as some sales move to cash and some are lost.
Jul 2026Changing Tariffs on imported wine and spiritsEU wine pays 15% until 2029 and most UK goods 10%, but Scotch whisky has entered duty-free since 24 July 2026. 15%on EU wine, fixed until 2029 Our serviceDuty pass-on planfrom £7,500
Rates depend on where the drink comes from, and changed several times in 2025 and 2026. Check your product's rate with US Customs.
Importers and brands selling European, British or other imported drinks in the US.
How much of the tariff to pass on, and where your US prices sit against local rivals.
Since 2015In force City soda taxesEight cities charge 1 to 2 cents per fluid ounce on sugary drinks, and Philadelphia taxes diet drinks too. 24 centson a 12oz can in Boulder or Santa Cruz Our serviceSoda tax reviewfrom £7,500
Berkeley, Oakland, Albany, San Francisco, Santa Cruz, Boulder, Seattle and Philadelphia. The Navajo Nation also adds 2% to junk food and sugary drinks.
Soft drink brands and distributors selling in those cities.
Prices city by city: how much of the tax to pass on, and which packs to lead with.
From 2025Phasing in Packaging fees (EPR) by stateSeven states make brands pay fees for the packaging they sell there, by material. 7 stateswith packaging EPR laws Our serviceCost pass-on planfrom £7,500
Maine, Oregon, Colorado, California, Minnesota, Maryland and Washington. Oregon and Colorado already invoice fees; the others phase in to about 2032.
Brands above each state's size threshold selling packaged food or drink there.
Which packs to change, and how much of the fee each product can carry in its price.
Since 1971In force Bottle deposits (bottle bills)Ten states add a deposit of 5 to 15 cents to drinks containers at the till. 10 statesadd 5 to 15 cents a container Our servicePrice and pack planfrom £7,500
California, Connecticut, Hawaii, Iowa, Maine, Massachusetts, Michigan, New York, Oregon and Vermont. What counts varies by state.
Drinks brands selling cans and bottles in those states, multipacks most.
Prices and pack sizes in deposit states, where shoppers pay more at the till.
Also worth knowing 1 rule with no direct effect on your prices
- FDA front-of-pack label
A proposed box rating saturated fat, sodium and added sugars as low, medium or high.
How it works
One fixed price, agreed before we start. Prices are fixed in pounds sterling; amounts in US dollars are a guide at October 2026 exchange rates. We're based in the UK and work remotely, in English, under NDA.
A free 15-minute call
Tell us what you sell and which rules worry you. We say whether a review would pay for itself, and quote a fixed price.
Your data
Weekly sales by product and retailer, and your costs. We sign an NDA before anything moves.
Your plan
Prices and promotions for every product, with the profit of each choice, walked through with your team.
Questions
Rules and rates change, so check the official source before making decisions. This page is not tax advice.
Which states have a SNAP soda ban?
USDA has approved limits for 23 states, and a court blocked four of them (Colorado, Iowa, Tennessee and West Virginia) in June 2026. In force in 2026: Indiana, Utah, Idaho, Oklahoma, Louisiana, Texas, Florida and Arkansas. From 1 November 2026: Montana, North Dakota, South Carolina and Virginia. Then Nebraska (December 2026), Wyoming, Kansas, Missouri, Hawaii and Ohio (2027) and Nevada (February 2028). Most limits cover candy too.
Are there US tariffs on EU wine and spirits?
Yes. Under the EU-US agreement in effect from 1 July 2026, most EU goods, wine included, pay 15% until the end of 2029. EU spirits paid 10% in July 2026, with a rise to 15% expected. Most UK goods pay 10%, but Scotch whisky has entered the US duty-free since 24 July 2026. Check your product's rate with US Customs.
How much does a pricing review cost?
A review of up to 10 products has a fixed price from £7,500 (about $10,000) and takes about three weeks. For 11 to 50 products, a full pricing review costs around £17,500 (about $23,000). It starts with a free 15-minute call.
Sources for every rule on this page
- USDA Food and Nutrition Service, SNAP food restriction waivers (updated 13 October 2026) Checked on 2026-10-25.
- Global Food Research Program (UNC), sugary drink tax maps, March 2026 Checked on 2026-10-20.
- Global Food Research Program (UNC), food and drink tax maps, March 2026 Checked on 2026-10-20.
- Brightest, Packaging EPR laws by state: a 2026 compliance map Checked on 2026-10-20.
- TOMRA, Bottle bill states and how they work Checked on 2026-10-20.
- Packaging Digest, FDA front-of-pack labeling rule 2026: status, delays and timeline Checked on 2026-10-20.