From 1 October 2026, qualifying shops and online retailers will be barred from using volume-based deals on foods high in fat, sugar or salt, while ordinary price cuts and meal deals remain allowed.
Scotland has brought in new restrictions on the way supermarkets and other larger retailers promote food and drink high in fat, sugar or salt, as ministers step up efforts to push shoppers towards healthier choices. The rules, which take effect from 1 October 2026, mean some price-led deals on products such as sweets, crisps, cakes and sugary soft drinks can no longer be used in qualifying shops or online. According to the Scottish Government, the policy is aimed at changing the retail environment rather than banning these foods outright.
The measures go beyond the most obvious multibuy offers. Guidance from the Scottish Government says banned promotions include deals such as “3 for the price of 2”, “3 for £10” and other volume offers that reward customers for buying more. Loyalty-point schemes can also fall foul of the rules if they effectively act as an incentive to increase the quantity purchased. A free high-sugar, salt or fat product offered alongside another item, such as a chocolate bar with a newspaper, is also covered.
At the same time, the regulations do not prevent all discounts. Ordinary price cuts, such as half-price offers or savings of a fixed amount, are still allowed. The Scottish Government also says the rules do not apply to loose foods or products made and packed in the shop, and they do not stop retailers from selling meal deals. In larger stores, the guidance also restricts prominent placement of the relevant products, including at checkouts, aisle ends and entrances.
The change brings Scotland into line with the rest of Great Britain, where similar policies are already in place. England introduced restrictions on price and multibuy promotions on less healthy food and drink in October 2025, while Wales followed in March 2026 with rules aimed at medium and large retailers. Separate UK-wide advertising restrictions on junk food also took effect in January 2026, limiting how less healthy products can be promoted online and on television. Public health officials say the measures are intended to make healthier choices easier, particularly for children, while critics of such interventions have long argued that they add complexity for retailers and consumers.
Disclaimer: This content is for informational purposes only and is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical judgment, advice, diagnosis, or treatment.
