Free drinks refills in restaurants could be banned in Wales

Free refills of sugary drinks in restaurants and coffee shops could be banned under plans being considered by the Welsh government.

Health secretary Eluned Morgan has launched a consultation on the proposals to help people make “healthier choices”.

This could include banning the out-of-home sector from offering free top-ups of sugar-sweetened or similar drinks, a policy already used by restaurants including Five Guys and Nando’s.

Supermarkets could also be prevented from advertising unhealthy food products at checkout areas or store entrances and offering multi-buy or buy-one-get-one-free deals on certain foods.

A call for evidence has opened for feedback and will close on 23 September.

The restrictions will apply to retailers with 50 or more employees, including franchise stores where there are 50 or more staff working under the business name.

If the plans are enforced, local authorities will be responsible for enforcing the rules and issuing businesses with compliance notices.

Failure to make further changes could see operators charged a fixed penalty of £2,500. The Welsh government said this was in line with the UK government’s approach to similar rules.

Morgan said: “As a nation, the food choices we are led to make contain too many calories and are too high in fat, sugar and salt.

“We want to support individuals to make healthier choices by restricting the promotion of food and drink which is high in fat, sugar and salt and by encouraging the promotion of healthier products.”

A previous consultation in 2022 also looked at restricting price promotions and meal deals, which the Welsh government said was still under consideration.

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