Energy drinks to be banned for under-16s in England from April
Summary
England will ban the sale of energy drinks with high caffeine levels to anyone under 16 starting in April. The government wants to protect children’s health by reducing problems related to too much caffeine, like sleep issues and trouble concentrating.Key Facts
- Energy drinks with more than 150mg of caffeine per litre cannot be sold to under-16s in shops, cafes, vending machines, or online.
- Popular brands affected include Red Bull, Monster, Relentless, and Prime.
- Lower-caffeine drinks like Diet Coke, tea, and coffee are not included in the ban.
- The ban aims to reduce child obesity and problems like anxiety, poor sleep, and difficulty focusing at school.
- Local authorities will enforce the ban, with fines up to £2,500 for businesses that break the rules.
- About 100,000 children in England drink energy drinks daily, which may affect their health and school performance.
- Experts warn children are more sensitive to caffeine because their bodies and brains are still growing.
- The ban was backed by public consultation and will use powers from the Food Safety Act 1990 once approved.
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