The British government on Thursday (July 16) announced the ban of sale of high-caffeine energy drinks to under-16s in England beginning in April next year, saying the move would protect children's health and wellbeing.
The government said drinks containing more than 150 milligrams of caffeine per litre would be covered by the ban, which is subject to parliamentary approval and would apply to sales in shops, vending machines and online.
Retailers themselves will be responsible for ensuring these drinks are not sold to under-16s while local authorities will enforce the ban. Businesses that break the law face fines of up to £2,500.
The government will take forward secondary legislation using powers contained in the Food Safety Act 1990, with the ban intended to come into force in April 2027, subject to Parliamentary approval.
Announcing the ban, Department of Health and Social Care stated that around 100,000 children in England drink energy drinks high in caffeine every day which can negatively impact their physical and mental health, as well as their education.
Children living in more deprived areas and households are more likely to consume these drinks, increasing health risks and impairing their learning.
Public Health Minister, Sharon Hodgson, said: "High-caffeine energy drinks have no place in children’s hands. We know thousands of kids in England consume them daily but the evidence is clear that this can cause anxiety, affect their sleep and concentration and can have a detrimental impact on their education.
"This ban will reduce children’s opportunity to buy drinks that are harmful to their health and wellbeing, and demonstrates our firm commitment to creating the healthiest generation of children ever."
The ban follows a consultation which received nearly 1,100 responses from businesses, public health organisations, enforcement bodies and members of the public, with strong support for introducing an age restriction.
The legislation will apply to drinks, other than tea or coffee, containing more than 150mg of caffeine per litre. It will cover sales in all retail settings, including shops, vending machines and websites and online. Business-to-business sales will be excluded.
This consultation is part of a series of measures by this government to improve kids’ health, combat childhood obesity and help support parents to raise the healthiest generation of children ever. Other measures include:
- Extending the Soft Drinks Industry Levy.
- Introducing supervised toothbrushing for 3 to 5-year-olds to protect those in the most deprived communities from tooth decay.
- Restricting less healthy food from being placed in certain locations in stores, included in volume price promotions and advertised when and where children are most likely to be watching.