Welsh government looks to ban free drink refills
Health secretary Eluned Morgan says businesses would have 12 months to update product packaging before restrictions were enforced
The Welsh Government are considering banning free refills on sugary drinks in a bid to curb growing obesity rates.
A consultation has been launched which will look at banning unhealthy food and drinks and restrict the places they can be sold in supermarkets.
The consultation which started July 15th will look at introducing restrictions on retailers putting food and drink which is high in fat, sugar and salt.
The regulations, if approved, would prohibit retailers from offering free refills or top-ups of sugary drinks. Multi-buy offers, such as buy-one-get-one-free, will also be prohibited under the proposals.
Healthier choices
Launched by the health secretary, Eluned Morgan, the consultation says the restrictions are being considered as a way of "supporting people in Wales to make the healthy choice."
Morgan has said the regulations would be voted on in the Senedd before the end of 2024 and, subject to Senedd approval, to come into force in 2025. Impacted businesses and enforcement bodies will have 12 months to implement the new rules.
It will cover medium and large retailers (those with 50 or more employees), but will exclude things like certain social care settings, military establishments and educational institutions, restaurants (except the drink refill ban), and specialist businesses which only sell one of the above list of items.
Restaurants such and Nando's and Five Guys are among some that offer refillable drinks which could be affected.
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