The Courier & Advertiser (Angus and Dundee)
Bid to ban all-youcan-eat buffets
Scottish Government proposal to tackle obesity epidemic
Ministers have proposed a ban on all-you-caneat buffets as part of their obesity fightback.
Restaurants would be barred from setting fixed prices for limitless food and drink considered unhealthy under draft restrictions published yesterday.
Joe Fitzpatrick, the public health minister, said “decisive action” is needed to clamp down on the “serious risks” to the country’s health.
Kirstene Hair, the Angus MP for the Scottish Tories, said it is important to encourage a healthier diet, but added most people enjoy allyou-can-eat buffets “rarely and responsibly”.
“Outlawing them would be too much of a big brother approach,” she said.
The buffet ban is one of several restrictions proposed by the SNP administration to improve the nation’s diet. Cancer Research UK welcomed the “ambitious” plan from the Scottish Government and called for the proposals to be put into law.
The Scottish Greens said the strategy is not bold enough.
The all-you-can-eat buffet is under threat from the Scottish Government’s obesity crackdown.
Restaurants would be barred from charging a flat rate for unlimited food and drink that is deemed unhealthy, under a proposal put forward by ministers.
The draft restrictions also cover multibuy deals such as buy one get one free, incentives including toys or loyalty points, checkout displays, coupons and freebies.
The diet and healthy eating strategy was launched yesterday by new public health minister Joe Fitzpatrick, who has been warned he faces a backlash from his Dundee constituents.
Mahmud Reyani, manager of Sunny’s in Dundee, which serves up curry, pizza and kebabs, predicted customer unrest if the buffet ban is pursued, adding that “people will lose jobs”.
On the reaction from diners, he said: “They are not going to be happy. I don’t know how the government will explain to them that they cannot have it because the buffet idea has been here a long time.”
Mr Reyani said the restrictions would lose them customers, adding “That will reduce the number of staff”.
Alan Ho, owner of the City Harbour Chinese Buffet in Dundee, said: “If the government says that there will no buffet allowed? No way.”
The Scottish Government says it will seek views on restricting the “sale of unlimited amounts for a fixed charge”, which could also spell the end for “bottomless brunches”.
Scottish Conservative Miles Briggs said targeting buffets is “too much of a Big Brother approach”.
“We need the SNP government’s new plan to look to help encourage long-term changes people can make in their lives to help address the obesity crisis facing Scotland, not gimmicks like banning allyou-can-eat buffets,” he said.
A consultation is scheduled for the autumn on detailed plans for various bans and restrictions on junk food promotion. The move would affect products high in sugar, fat and salt such as sweets, biscuits, crisps, cakes and sugary soft drinks, and could be expanded to cover ice cream and dairy desserts.
Mr Fitzpatrick said “far too many people” were facing “serious risks to their health” from poor diet, which were “largely avoidable”.
“Scotland has a proud history of taking decisive action on public health and this is the next step in that journey, turning our attention to the nation’s diet and weight,” the Dundee West MSP added.
After targeting public smoking and cheap alcohol, it seems the Scottish Government has junk food in its sights as it bids to create a fitter, healthier Scotland. The smoking ban seemed a victory for common sense but was met with howls of derision in some quarters.
The term “nanny state”, in particular, was frequently heard. It also drove many pubs and restaurants to the wall.
Minimum unit pricing was also vociferously opposed and only forced through after a long and bitter legal battle.
Again, the arguments against its introduction centred on issues other than the fairly clear health benefits.
The same is to be expected of plans to crack down on cheap food deals.
Proposals are in their earliest stages, and a finished strategy cannot be universally popular.
Scotland’s relationship with food mirrors that with alcohol – cost and volume often beats quality.
But the progression from legislating on cigarettes and alcohol to high fat, high sugar foodstuffs is an obvious one – indeed, there is little point focusing on one and ignoring the other.
Cancer, diabetes, heart disease and other illnesses linked to poor diet are draining the NHS of precious resources.
If it is to be transformed and made fit for purpose, a root cause of its woes must be tackled.
If that cannot be done through education, legislation may be required.