Shoppers in Paisley and across Renfrewshire may already have noticed fewer "buy one get one free" deals on crisps, sweets and fizzy drinks – and new rules mean that's no accident.
The Food (Promotion and Placement) (Scotland) Regulations 2025 came into force on 1 October, bringing in new restrictions on how foods and drinks high in fat, sugar or salt – often called HFSS products – can be promoted in shops.
The changes are set out in an update going to Renfrewshire Council's Communities and Housing Policy Board on Tuesday 27 October.
The rules cover businesses with 50 or more employees across the whole organisation that sell the specified products directly to customers. Firms in scope can no longer run volume price promotions such as "buy one get one free", "3 for 2" or similar multi-buy deals on affected items. Free refill offers on certain sugary drinks are also banned.
Larger stores – those with a relevant floor area of 185.8 square metres (2,000 sq ft) or more – face placement restrictions too. Specified HFSS products can no longer be displayed in prominent spots such as store entrances, aisle ends and other designated high-footfall areas. Similar limits apply online, restricting where these products can be placed in key promotional areas of websites and apps.
The aim is to create a healthier food environment by making less healthy foods less prominent at the point of purchase, cutting down on impulse buys and over-consumption of products that contribute to poor diet and obesity.
In Renfrewshire, the council's Business Regulation team within Environmental Health is responsible for enforcing the new rules. The council says any complaints or intelligence suggesting a business is not complying will be investigated, with action taken as necessary.
Breaking the regulations is a criminal offence, with a maximum fine of £2,500 (level 4 on the standard scale) if a business is prosecuted. Existing enforcement notices can also be used as an alternative to prosecution.
Businesses with fewer than 50 employees across the whole organisation are not covered by the regulations.
Photo: Morrisons, Paisley. Image: Billy McCrorie, CC BY-SA 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons.