(A customer sets all their items up on the counter. This includes a six-pack of beer.)

Me: “Okay, your total will be $12.12.”

(The customer hands me their food stamp card.)

Me: “I can run this through, and it’ll take most of the total off. But beer isn’t covered under this program. I apologize.”

Customer: “Excuse me, what?”

Me: “Yeah, alcohol isn’t covered under the Supplemental Nutritional Assistance program.”

Customer: “But beer is nutritional. It has wheat in it.”