Energy drinks to be banned for under-16s in England from April

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".

The ban, subject to parliamentary approval, will be enforced by local authorities and businesses that break the law could face fines of up to £2,500.

Around 100,000 children in England consume energy drinks every day and has warned the beverages can also impact pupils' ability to focus at school

Some popular drinks brands contain more caffeine than two cups of coffee or four cans of cola.

Excessive consumption has been linked to headaches and sleep problems.

Experts say young people can be more sensitive to caffeine as they have smaller bodies and their brains are still developing.

The ban comes after 1,100 responses to a consultation which strongly supported introducing an age restriction on the drinks, external.

The new rules will come in via secondary legislation using powers from the Food Safety Act 1990.

Too much caffeine can cause a rapid heart rate, abnormal heart rhythms and seizures.

Although rare, there have been some deaths linked to excess caffeine.

The sugary versions of the drinks can also contribute to obesity and damage teeth, according to The Association of UK Dieticians.

Currently any drink, other than tea or coffee, with over 150mg requires a label warning of its high caffeine content that says it is not recommended for children or pregnant or breast-feeding women.

For most adults, up to 400mg of caffeine a day, or about four cups of instant coffee or five cups of tea, is safe.

Katharine Jenner, Executive Director of the Obesity Health Alliance, praised the policy and said restricting the sales of the drinks to children "at a vital time in their life is just common-sense".

The British Soft Drinks Association said the ban was "unnecessary".

A spokesperson said: "Since 2010, our members have committed not to market or promote the sale of energy drinks to under-16s, and all high-caffeine beverages carry a 'not recommended for children' label."

The previous Conservative government had planned to introduce the ban, but scrapped the move in 2022, and said consumption should be a personal choice.

Northern Ireland, Scotland and Wales are also considering a ban.

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