A law change has been put in place across the UK which has banned Coca Cola refills at restaurants. From now, full sugar drinks like classic Coca Cola as well as lemonade will no longer be allowed to be given out as free refills. The move will affect chains like Nando’s and Pizza Hut as well as others which are known for offering bottomless fizzy drinks.
Instead, diners will have to opt for sugar-free alternatives like Coke Zero, Diet Coke, Pepsi Max, Fanta Zero, and Dr Pepper Zero if they want their refill fix. A poster put up in Nando’s spotted this week online said: “Want Coca-Cola Classic? It’s one glass only.
“Based on new Government laws, we’ve had to limit Coca Cola Classic to one glass per customer. Still thirsty? Help yourself to any of our low sugar fizzy Bottomless soft drinks.”
The new rules, introduced on October 1, are part of a host of changes introduced to tackle junk food, which also includes a ban on buy one get one free deals on sweets, crisps and chocolate. The rules apply to supermarkets, large high street chains and online retailers.
The Government’s new rules state: “Restrictions apply to free refills of sugar-sweetened beverages, defined as HFSS or ‘less healthy’ by the NPM, in any qualifying business, including the restaurant and out of home sector. Businesses in scope of regulations must not offer a free refill promotion on drinks in scope of regulations.
“A ‘free refill promotion’ means a promotion that offers the consumer the same drink or another drink to which this regulation applies (including free top-ups of any part of such a drink) for free after consumption of all or part of a first drink.
“…Businesses in scope of the regulations that promote food in scope in a way that does not meet the requirements of the legislation will be liable to enforcement action, unless an exemption applies.”
The same law also bans adverts for unhealthy food from being shown on TV between 5.30am and 9pm.
Unhealthy foods included in the advertising ban include cakes, crisps, sweets, chocolate, pizza, ice cream and also breakfast cereals, porridges with added ingredients and sweetened bread products.
A spokesperson for the Department of Health and Social Care said: “Obesity robs children of the best possible start in life, sets them up for a lifetime of health problems and costs the NHS billions.
“This is a crucial step to delivering a major shift in the focus of healthcare from sickness to prevention, and towards meeting the government’s ambition to give every child a healthy, happy start to life.”