UKHospitality has reiterated its support of the Government’s efforts to provide customers with healthy eating choices but warns against the implementation of reactionary mandatory measures on advertising.
UKHospitality Chief Executive Kate Nicholls said, “We fully support the Government’s efforts to improve and promote healthy eating. However, the Scottish Government must be careful to not undermine businesses with disproportionate measures. Hospitality businesses are subjected to an overwhelming amount of regulation in this area. Placing additional burdens on an industry, which is already committed to offering healthy food and drink choices, would cause further unnecessary pressures on an already stretched sector.
“We need more clarity on the detail of these proposals to avoid unnecessarily capturing a range of food products not intended to be restricted. Hospitality operators are responding to the public’s demand for healthier lifestyles and should have the right to advertise their offerings. There also needs to be a recognition that people are able to make informed decisions, without the need for random restrictions.
“Any mandatory measure put in place on the advertisement of certain types of food should be flexible and proportionate and if legislation is to be brought in, it is essential that businesses are given enough lead time to adapt to these new regulations.
“We will continue to work with our members and the wider sector to promote healthy eating and drinking and communicate our efforts to the Government and collaborate on sensible proposals to help tackle any health issues.”
