No place in children's hands: <16s in UK to be banned from buying energy drinks
7 days ago
- #health
- #education
- #regulation
- Under-16s in England will be banned from buying high-caffeine energy drinks like Red Bull and Monster.
- The ban aims to address obesity, sleep problems, and concentration issues in children.
- Energy drinks with more than 150mg of caffeine per litre will be prohibited for under-16s.
- Health experts, teachers, and dentists support the ban, citing benefits for children's health.
- The ban will be enforced using secondary legislation under the Food Safety Act 1990.
- Supermarkets voluntarily stopped selling these drinks to under-16s in 2018, but smaller stores still allow sales.
- Teachers report that energy drinks cause hyperactivity and poor classroom behavior.
- Dentists urge extending the ban to zero and low-sugar energy drinks to combat tooth decay.
- The British Soft Drinks Association states that its members already self-regulate by not marketing to under-16s.