Sainsbury’s is launching an innovative new Meal Ticket scheme designed to assure worried parents their kids are feeding themselves properly at university.

Next month, it is bringing out a pre-paid card that parents can top up at their local store, allowing their kids to buy over 30,000 products in Sainsbury’s stores around the UK. The cards can also be used at Sainsbury’s petrol stations and coffee shops.

The card comes in two parts, one for parents and one for students, and can be repeatedly topped up with £1 to £750 by either party. 

Students – but perhaps not parents – will be glad to hear they can use the card to buy cigarettes and alcohol.