Government to Ban Energy Drink Sales to Under-16s in England
The UK government is preparing a new law that would stop anyone under 16 from buying energy drinks such as Red Bull, Monster, and Prime in shops, cafés, restaurants, vending machines, and online.
Despite many supermarkets already having a voluntary ban, research shows that up to a third of children in the UK consume these drinks every week.
Some brands contain more caffeine than two cups of coffee, with side effects linked to sleep problems, headaches, rapid heart rate, and, in rare cases, even death. The sugary varieties also harm teeth and contribute to obesity.
Health Secretary Wes Streeting said parents, teachers, and children have called for action, pointing to the impact energy drinks have on health, concentration, and learning.
A 12-week consultation will gather evidence from health experts, schools, the public, and retailers before the ban comes into force. Streeting promised it would be introduced sooner than the end of the current parliament.
Campaigners argue that manufacturers deliberately market these drinks to children through influencers, bright packaging, and sweet flavours.
Youth activist Carrera, 18, described them as “the social currency of the playground.” Meanwhile, TV chef Jamie Oliver has warned that children drinking energy drinks for breakfast come into school “bouncing off the walls.”
While lower-caffeine drinks like Diet Coke, as well as tea and coffee, will not be affected by the law, energy drinks are now firmly under scrutiny for their health risks to young people, whose developing brains and smaller bodies make them more vulnerable to caffeine.
This move connects directly to children’s right to the highest attainable standard of health. It reflects a duty to protect children from harm that energy drinks could cause them and protect their well-being.
