Scotland has implemented regulations requiring supermarkets and other large retailers to remove certain food and beverage products from high-visibility store locations and restrict promotional offers on these items.
The rules apply to businesses employing more than 50 people, including supermarkets, shops, restaurants, pharmacies, petrol stations and garden centres. Products high in fat, sugar or salt can no longer be displayed in prominent areas such as store entrances, checkout counters, aisle ends and designated queueing zones. The regulations also prohibit multi-buy promotional offers such as “three for two” deals, loyalty point bonuses and bundled offers pairing unhealthy products with other purchases. However, straightforward discounts like half-price reductions remain permitted. Online retailers face similar restrictions, including prohibitions on advertising certain foods on their homepages.
The affected products encompass a broad range of items beyond obvious choices like chocolate, crisps and ice cream. The regulations could also apply to sugary beverages, breakfast cereals, savoury snacks, ready meals, confectionery and baked goods, with inclusion determined by their specific nutritional content. Some items not typically considered unhealthy, such as certain types of kombucha, seaweed snacks and muesli, may fall under the rules depending on their sugar levels. Meal deals are exempt from the regulations, though individual restricted products within such offers cannot be placed in prohibited locations.
Scottish authorities introduced the measures to promote healthier eating habits. Public Health Minister Maree Todd stated that research shows promotions and prominent product placement encourage overconsumption of calorie-dense foods. The Scottish government noted that approximately two-thirds of Scottish adults are overweight or obese, with higher rates in lower-income areas. Similar restrictions have been adopted in England and Wales, with England implementing its ban on price and multi-buy promotions in October 2025 and Wales following in March.
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