THE sale of high-caffeine energy drinks to children under 16 is to be banned in England from April next year in a bid to slash childhood obesity rates.
Under the new rules, it will be illegal to sell drinks containing more than 150mg of caffeine per litre to anyone under 16 across all retailers, including online, in shops, restaurants, and cafes.
Drinks that currently breach the limit and would be part of the ban include Red Bull, Monster, Relentless, and Prime Credit: Facebook
Vending machines will also face a total ban on the drinks to prevent under-16s from circumventing the new restrictions.
Tea, , and lower-caffeine soft drinks, such as and Pepsi, will be exempt from the new restrictions.
However, popular brands that breach the limit and face the ban include Red Bull, Monster, Relentless, and Prime.
These products already carry manufacturer warnings stating they are not recommended for children.
Up to a third of children in the UK consume at least one drink every week, with boys particularly high consumers.
Some of these drinks contain up to the same amount of caffeine as two cups of coffee or four cans of .
Public 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 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.
It will also cover sales in all settings, including shops, vending machines and websites and online.
However, business-to-business sales will be excluded.
Eze Chidiebere Paul
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