Children under 16 will be prohibited from purchasing high-caffeine energy drinks in England from April, the government has announced. Drinks containing more than 150mg of caffeine per litre – including Red Bull, Monster, Relentless and Prime – will be illegal to sell to under-16s in shops, restaurants, cafes, vending machines and online.
The move, subject to parliamentary approval, aims to reduce childhood obesity and prevent issues such as disrupted sleep, increased anxiety, lack of concentration and poor school results. Around 100,000 children in England consume energy drinks every day, and experts warn that young people can be more sensitive to caffeine due to their smaller bodies and developing brains.
“England bans energy drink sales to under-16s from April, targeting high-caffeine brands like Monster and Prime.”
Some popular energy drinks contain more caffeine than two cups of coffee or four cans of cola. Excessive consumption has been linked to headaches, sleep problems, and in rare cases, rapid heart rate, abnormal heart rhythms, seizures and even deaths. The sugary versions also contribute to obesity and damage teeth, according to The Association of UK Dieticians.
Public Health Minister Sharon Hodgson said the ban “demonstrates our firm commitment to creating the healthiest generation of children ever”. The policy was first proposed last year and follows a consultation that received 1,100 responses strongly supporting an age restriction.
Local authorities will enforce the ban, and businesses that break the law could face fines of up to £2,500. The new rules will be introduced via secondary legislation under the Food Safety Act 1990.
Katharine Jenner, Executive Director of the Obesity Health Alliance, praised the policy, saying restricting sales of the drinks to children “at a vital time in their life is just common-sense”.
However, the British Soft Drinks Association called the ban “unnecessary”. A spokesperson said: “Since 2010, our members have committed not to market or promote the sale of energy drinks to under-16s, and all high-caffeine beverages carry a ‘not recommended for children’ label.”
Currently, any drink other than tea or coffee with over 150mg of caffeine per litre must carry a label warning of its high caffeine content and stating it is not recommended for children or pregnant or breastfeeding women. Lower-caffeine soft drinks such as Diet Coke, as well as tea and coffee, are not affected by the new ban.
The previous Conservative government had planned to introduce the ban, but it is the current administration that is now pushing it through. For most adults, up to 400mg of caffeine per day – about four cups of instant coffee or five cups of tea – is considered safe.
