SALE OF ENERGY DRINKS TO KIDS UNDER 16 BANNED IN ENGLAND. (PHOTO).

SALE OF ENERGY DRINKS TO  KIDS UNDER 16 BANNED IN ENGLAND

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 cut 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. The ban will apply across all retailers, including online, in shops, restaurants, and cafes.

Vending machines will also face a total ban on the drinks to prevent under-16s from circumventing the restrictions.

Drinks that breach the limit and will be included in the ban include Red Bull, Monster, Relentless, and Prime. 

These products already carry manufacturer warnings stating they are not recommended for children.

Tea, coffee, and lower-caffeine soft drinks such as Coca-Cola and Pepsi will be exempt from the new restrictions.

Up to a third of children in the UK consume at least one energy drink every week, with boys being particularly high consumers. 

Some of these drinks contain up to the same amount of caffeine as two cups of coffee or four cans of cola.

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 public 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.

Business-to-business sales will be excluded from the ban.