The Co-operative has given publishers of lads’ magazines an ultimatum to cover them up in “modesty bags” or face having them removed from shelves across 4,000 stores.
Titles such as Front, Loaded, Nuts and Zoo known for their pictures of scantily-clad models have been given until September 9 to deliver the magazines in pre-sealed bags.
The retail group, which describes itself as one of the UK’s largest magazine sellers, had already introduced opaque screens on shelves earlier this month to shield children from “lewd pictures” on front covers.
It comes amid increasing debate about the effects of sexual images on children, with David Cameron setting out a raft of reforms this week which will introduce family-friendly filters that automatically block internet porn unless customers choose to opt out.
The Co-operative said the move was a response to concerns by its members, customers and colleagues.
Steve Murrells, retail chief executive for the Co-operative Group, said: “As a community-based retailer we have listened to the concerns of our customers and members, many of whom say they object to their children being able to see overt sexual images in our stores.
“Whilst we have tried to mitigate the likelihood of young children seeing the images with a number of measures in-store, the most effective way of doing this is for these magazines to be put in individual, sealed modesty bags.”