If Coca-Cola Classic is your drink of choice at Nando’s, you may want to reconsider going ‘bottomless’ from now on.
That’s because the chicken chain has implemented a new rule following a government ban on the promotion of unhealthy food and drink rolled out earlier this month.
The law restricts free refills of ‘sugar-sweetened beverages, defined as HFSS (high in fat, salt or sugar) or “less healthy”,’ in England, with similar legislation expected to be introduced in Scotland and Wales from next year.
As a result, unlimited full-sugar Coke is no longer available at Nando’s, and must instead be purchased on a glass-by-glass basis, while low or no-sugar alternatives are unaffected.
Other restaurants with bottomless top-up offers – such as Pizza Express, Five Guys and Burger King – will also be expected to comply with the regulations.
However, Nando’s seems to have sparked some of the spiciest backlash on social media.
Peri-Peri fans shared outrage at the change, after images circulated of a drinks machine at the Holborn branch with a sticker reading: ‘Based on new government laws, we’ve had to limit Coca-Cola Classic to one glass per customer.
‘Still thirsty? Help yourself to one of our low-sugar fizzy bottomless soft drinks.’
‘Wtf is this country?’ said Luke Ramsden on X, to which Gary B replied: ‘Welcome to the Nanny State.’
Over on Instagram, @leo.t1444 called the move an ‘actual joke’, but @jameyhoward didn’t pull any punches, describing it in no uncertain terms as ‘straight up b******s’.
Another commenter, @kellym1991x, added: ‘This is silly, you should be able to have freedom of choice. I don’t drink fizzy drinks often but you shouldn’t have to feel like a child in this world. The government needs to focus on everything else, not this.’
While Nando’s declined to comment specifically, a spokesperson for UKHospitality on behalf of the industry said: ‘From October 1, hospitality businesses will be complying with new regulations that have introduced a ban on free refills of sugar-sweetened drinks in hospitality.
‘Venues work hard to ensure that customers have a wide range of drink options to choose from when they visit our sector, and will continue to ensure that is the case.”
A Department of Health and Social Care spokesman said the restrictions were a ‘crucial step’ in reducing childhood obesity, adding: ‘Obesity robs children of the best possible start in life, sets them up for a lifetime of health problems and costs the NHS billions.’
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