The Vending & Automatic Retail Association (AVA) is urging its participants to touch their MPs and reply to the federal government’s session on banning the sale of power beverages from merchandising machines, caution that the proposed coverage would have a critical and rising monetary have an effect on at the trade.
The govt is proposing a blanket ban on power drink gross sales from all merchandising machines, without reference to the age of the buyer, as a part of its dedication to forestall under-16s from having access to those merchandise.
The AVA mentioned: “We have been engaging with the Department of Health and Social Care for months on this matter, where we have repeatedly explained that over 80% of vending machines are in closed environments – areas where under 16s are unable to access. As referenced in the consultation, the government has expressed a clear preference to implement a blanket ban through vending machines for ease of enforcement, ignoring the significant impact this would have on our industry.”
Based on the most recent data submitted via participants, the AVA now estimates that the once a year monetary loss to the sphere can be roughly £43 million – considerably upper than previous predictions. Given that power beverages stay the fastest-growing marketplace within the comfortable beverages sector, the AVA warns this determine will handiest proceed to upward thrust.
“We are still deeply concerned about the consultation’s focus on a complete ban of these drinks across all vending machines and automated or unattended retail points,” the affiliation added.
The session closes on 26 November 2025, and the AVA showed it’ll be filing a complete reaction forward of the cut-off date.
In the intervening time, the affiliation has ready a template letter to assist participants make their very own submissions, both as folks or on behalf in their companies. It is looking for as many submissions as imaginable to make sure the trade’s voice is heard.
Members can get entry to the template and steering by the use of the AVA web site. Follow the information HERE
