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Our local 7-11 - or, "Sleven," in localese - has a self-serve Slurpee set-up in the back of the store.
This is a wondrous thing.
| yourfloridafriend.blogspot.com |
Remember the days of waiting at the counter, ten people deep, for your Slurpee to be handed over? Now, you can serve yourself, and not confuse the clerks over putting banana flavor on the bottom, followed by root beer, then orange, and topped off by a dollop of Mountain Dew.
So as I was getting my Slurpee today, I notice a new sign taped up on the machines. It reads something along the lines of: 1. "If you're using an EBT card to pay for Slurpees, you must - something something something . . ." and then, 2. "Do not insert straw into Slurpee until you have paid and are out of the store."
I was momentarily confused. I figured maybe the store was tired of people drinking half their Slurpees before they'd gotten to the counter to pay, so I asked the clerk, "What's an EBT card?"
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| dpss.lacounty.org |
Clerk: That's the food stamp card in this state.
me: Oh, ok. So - the straw thing? We're a little confused.
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Clerk: (tight lipped, looking put out) People on food stamps can now buy Slurpees with their foodstamp card. If they put the straw in it before they pay and leave the store, then it's considered a 'to be consumed immediately' item and we can tax it. If they use their EBT card and then put the straw in the Slurpee as soon as they're out the door, then it's not considered a 'to be consumed' food item, and it cannot be taxed.
me: Huh. So - those banana-flavored Slurpees are really nutritious and necessary food items, like bread and milk and real bananas.
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me: Interesting. So - who on earth decided that Slurpees should be covered by food stamp money?
me: (preparing to leave) Wow. Well, thanks for the explanation.
So, what do you think? Is it wrong to spend food stamp money on Slurpees, which have absolutely no nutritional value - much like some sugar-coated cereals I won't name - or is it acceptable? Should people on food stamps be denied a simple pleasure in life like a Slurpee on a hot day simply because they're on food stamps and don't have any ready cash?

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