Energy drinks to be banned for under-16s in England from April
The UK government has announced a ban on the sale of high-caffeine energy drinks to children under 16 in England starting in April. The policy aims to address health concerns including obesity, sleep disruption, and anxiety among young people.
Why it matters
This represents a significant public health intervention targeting youth nutrition and mental well-being, with potential legal consequences for retailers.
Image source, EPA/Shutterstock Image caption, Some popular energy drinks contain more caffeine than two cups of coffee
Children under 16 will be banned from buying high-caffeine energy drinks in England from April, the government has said.
Drinks containing more than 150mg of caffeine per litre will be illegal to sell to children and younger teenagers in shops, restaurants, cafes, vending machines and online.
Lower-caffeine soft drinks, such Diet Coke, are not affected and neither are tea and coffee. However, drinks including Red Bull, Monster, Relentless and Prime would all breach the limit.
The new rules aim to reduce obesity levels in children and prevent issues such as disrupted sleep, increased anxiety and lack of concentration, as well as poor school results.
Announcing the new measures, first proposed last year , Public Health Minister Sharon Hodgson said the ban "demonstrates our firm commitment to creating the healthiest generation of children ever".
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