Push to End Digital-Only Coupons Fails in El Paso

The El Paso City Council was seeking to push a ban on stores' "digital-only" coupons. It's a move that has been seen in many other parts of the country; San Diego has already passed a similar ordinance; and City Representative Josh Acevedo was hoping to do the same in the Sun City.

For many El Paso residents without smartphones, stable internet, or digital literacy, saving a few dollars on groceries is no longer just a matter of clipping coupons, it’s a digital barrier. City Rep. Acevedo, who represents Central and Northeast El Paso, said in a statement to K-FOX:

There are some retailers that are offering digital-only exclusive coupons and for our community where there is a big digital divide, that makes it really difficult for some people to access.

He's not completely wrong; think about your grandparents, or maybe even your own parents, who aren't completely tech savvy and could be missing out on possible discounts. Saving a few bucks is something that incredibly important not just for everyone, but especially for our elderly who could be on a fixed income.

Acevedo pointed out that Texas's own H-E-B already offers their coupons both digitally and physically:

There's some grocery stores like HEB that we don't have in El Paso are already doing that on their own because they recognize the digital divide.

While there was strong advocacy for it, the motion to advance the measure ultimately failed, by a 5-3 vote.

While the council’s decision marks a setback for advocates, the issue of digital-only coupon access isn’t going away. Communities across the U.S. are starting to recognize that digital convenience shouldn't come at the cost of equity. For many in El Paso, especially those on fixed incomes or without internet access, the hope is that change may still come, if not now, then soon.