Policy information on health in Scotland impacted by commercial industries: FOI release

Information requested

Details of published or centrally held government policies, strategies, or frameworks (from January 2023 to present [1 June 2026]) that address the influence of commercial industries on health in Scotland specifically in relation to the alcohol, and tobacco, gambling, and highly processed foods (e.g. foods high in fat, salt and sugar) sectors.

This includes documents relating to the following policy areas (where applicable):

1. Advertising, promoting, marketing and sponsorship controls

2. Product regulation, reformulation and standards

3. Pricing regulation, taxation, and levies

4. Licensing and trading agreements

5. Planning and zoning powers

6. Regulation of interactions with these industries in policy making

Response

I enclose a copy of some of the information you requested in the format you asked for.

Please find attached the following documents:

2. Gambling Levy - Gambling funding bid template Sept 2025 (Please refer to the declaration in section 2)

2a. Gambling Levy - Levy bid process – FAQs (Please refer to ‘Funding from other sources’) Declaration - Gambling Levy Bid

Some of the information you have requested is available from:

• https://www.gov.scot/publications/tobacco-vaping-framework-roadmap-2034/. Our Tobacco and Vaping Framework sets our commitment to complying with Article 5.3 to ensure the development of public health policy is protected from the interests of the tobacco industry.
• https://www.gov.scot/publications/alcohol-framework-2018-preventing-harm-next-steps-changingrelationship-alcohol/pages/2/. Please refer to point 8 “Reducing consumption: availability and licensing’’ for the Scottish Governments position on the alcohol industry and health-related policies. Please note that this framework was published outwith the time frame you specified.

However, on this occasion I have signposted you to this information as it is relevant to your request.

Under section 25(1) of FOISA, we do not have to give you information which is already reasonably accessible to you. If, however, you do not have internet access to obtain this information from the websites listed, then please contact me again and I will send you a paper copy.

While our aim is to provide information whenever possible, in this instance we are unable to provide some of the information you have requested because exemptions under sections 29(1)(a)formulation or development of Government policy) and section 17(1) of FOISA applies to that information. The reasons why these exemptions apply are explained in the Annex to this letter.

Additional information

Further information that may be of interest to you is detailed below:

• Guidance on Article 5.3 is available from the WHO Framework convention on Tobacco Control. As noted above, Scottish Government is compliant with Article 5.3.
• You may also wish to refer to the Scottish Parliament’s policy on Lobbying Members of the Scottish Parliament: https://www.parliament.scot/get-involved/lobbying. Please note that this policy is the responsibility of Scottish Parliament, not the Scottish Government. Any requests for further information on Lobbying should be sent to info@parliament.scot.

ANNEX

REASONS FOR NOT PROVIDING INFORMATION

The Scottish Government does not have the information

The Scottish Government does not have the information you have asked for because we do not have any published or internally held policies, strategies or frameworks that address influence on health policies from the Food and Drink Industry (including HFSS and processed food industries).

This is a formal notice under section 17(1) of FOISA that the Scottish Government does not have the information you have requested.

An exemption applies, subject to the public interest test

An exemption under section 29(1)(a) (formulation or development of Government policy) of FOISA applies to some of the information you have requested. This exemption applies to the following documents, ‘Conflict of Interest Policy for Gambling’ and ‘Conflict of interest for health harming commodities’. These documents are both in draft format and are still being developed. This exemption is subject to the ‘public interest test’. Therefore, taking account of all the circumstances of this case, we have considered if the public interest in disclosing the information outweighs the public interest in applying the exemption. We have found that, on balance, the public interest lies in favour of upholding the exemption. We recognise that there is a public interest in disclosing information as part of open, transparent and accountable government, and to inform public debate. However, there is a greater public interest in high quality policy and decision-making, and in the properly considered implementation and development of policies and decisions. This means that Ministers and officials need to be able to consider all available options and to debate those rigorously, to fully understand their possible implications. Their candour in doing so will be affected by their assessment of whether the discussions on managing conflicts of interest will be disclosed in the near future, when it may undermine or constrain the Government’s view on that policy while it is still under discussion and development.

About FOI

The Scottish Government is committed to publishing all information released in response to Freedom of Information requests. View all FOI responses at https://www.gov.scot/foi-responses.

FOI 202600519126 - Information Released - Documents

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