This article assesses the social acceptability of two food policy tools, viz. a polyethylene terephthalate (PET) bottle deposit scheme, and a wasted food charge. First, a systematic literature review on regulatory and market tools was conducted. Next, a quantitative survey was carried out among food consumers residing in the municipality of Poznań Poland in 2022. To deepen the analysis, the quantitative survey was supplemented with interviews with experts. The analysis of the quantitative data revealed that women have a statistically significantly higher acceptance for both instruments than men. Acceptance for the PET bottle deposit is highest among younger respondents and those with higher education, while acceptance for the introduction of a wasted food charge was highest among older respondents and rural dwellers. The experts pointed out both the benefits and the risks associated with implementing these instruments, and emphasised the need to adapt educational and regulatory strategies to diverse demographic and socio-economic groups.