BOGOF deals banned
Multi-buy promotions do not save people money – in fact, they encourage them to spend more. They are designed to encourage impulsive purchases and to normalise buying more and more frequently.
Greg Fell
ADPH President
Today, restrictions on price or multibuy promotions on unhealthy food and drink, such as “buy one, get one free” deals, have been introduced in England. The restrictions will apply to supermarkets, larger high street shops and online retailers and are aimed at tackling obesity.
Free refill promotions of certain drinks in restaurants and cafes are also subject to a ban.
From January, a ban on the advertising of less healthy food and drink on television before the watershed and a complete ban on online promotions will come into force.
The new rules, which our President Greg Fell spoke to the BBC about, are a step in the right direction, although more action is needed to protect consumers against the wide range of marketing techniques used by industry to persuade people to buy additional or more expensive food or drink items they otherwise would not have bought.
It is particularly important for children to be protected as it can impact what and when children eat now and shape their food preferences from a young age.