Prime Minister promises action on misleading pricing and subscription traps: The Prime Minister has announced that he will be rolling out a series of ‘everyday fixes’ to help people with the cost of living. Pretend prices and deceptive deals will be a thing of the past under the Prime Minister’s plans to ban retailers from making misleading claims to customers about discounts. The Prime Minister also wants to see an end to subscription traps, where people find it hard to cancel their subscriptions and contracts are automatically renewed at a higher cost. New rules will come into force in January 2027. A consultation will launch in the autumn to assess whether tactics such as fake “was” prices, invented discounts and misleading recommended retail prices (RRPs) should be added to the list of practices banned under the Digital Markets, Competition and Consumers Act (DMCCA).View >
Prime Minister targets vape and gambling shops: As part of the PM’s plans to save Britain’s high streets, the Government intends to revoke the Gambling Act’s outdated “Aim to Permit” rule, which currently restricts the ability of councils to refuse new betting shops and 24-hour slot machine shops even where there are strong local concerns. The government will also require planning permission for vape shops to finally give local people and councils a say over whether they open and to stop them opening near schools. View > Local Government Association >
General Product Safety Regulations used to ban disposable BBQ’s: The Office for Product Safety and Standards has issued statutory guidance under the General Product Safety Regulations 2005 stating that given the foreseeable conditions of use that under the current drought fire risk conditions that a disposable BBQ can be considered to be a safe product. View > Association of Convenience Stores >
Guidance issued on implementation of new smoking and vape controls: The Department of Health and Social Care has issued a raft of detailed guidance on new requirements coming into force on 29 October and 1 January 2027. From 29 October 2026, measures include the age of sale restriction for nicotine and vape products, fixed penalty notices and a vape and nicotine products vending machine ban.
From 1 January 2027, it will be illegal to sell tobacco products to anyone born on or after 1 January 2009.
Collection > Guidance: Selling tobacco, herbal smoking products and cigarette papers > Guidance: Selling vaping and nicotine products > Association of Convenience Stores > Chartered Trading Standards Institute >
Advertising and alcohol watchdog rulings:
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The Advertising Standards Authority has ruled against price reduction claims by Nectar Sleep Ltd against ‘Similar brand average prices’. View >
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The ASA has also upheld a complaint about an instagram post by Yo Sushi for a Chocolate Cream Puff made with KitKat® on the basis that it identified a specific less healthy product. View >
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The ASA has also highlighted joint actions with National Trading Standards to stop a number of web sites from selling illegal weapons. View >
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The Portman group has upheld a complaint about a Buzzballz gacha machine promotionon the Southbank on the basis that the machine and promotional activity had under 18 appeal. View >
