UK Government to Ban Energy Drink Sales to Under-16s
Tesco, Sainsburys, Morrisons, Asda, Aldi and Lidl hit with major law change

Image: Express
The UK Government plans to implement a law prohibiting the sale of energy drinks to individuals under 16 years old. This move aims to address health concerns, including obesity and concentration issues in children, impacting approximately 100,000 young consumers daily.
- 01The new law will make it illegal for retailers to sell energy drinks with over 150mg of caffeine per litre to anyone under 16.
- 02Current data shows that 4% of children aged 11 to 15 consume energy drinks daily, totaling around 100,000 children.
- 03Major supermarkets like Tesco and Sainsbury’s have already stopped selling these drinks to minors voluntarily.
- 04Health Secretary Wes Streeting emphasized the negative impact of energy drinks on children's sleep and concentration.
- 05A 12-week consultation has been initiated to gather input from health experts and the public regarding the ban.
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The UK Government is set to introduce a new law prohibiting the sale of energy drinks to anyone under the age of 16. This legislation aims to combat health issues linked to high-caffeine beverages, such as obesity and poor academic performance. Currently, major retailers like Tesco, Sainsbury’s, and Morrisons have already ceased sales to minors voluntarily, but smaller convenience stores continue to sell these drinks. Research indicates that about 4% of children aged 11 to 15 consume energy drinks daily, equating to roughly 100,000 young consumers. The proposed law will specifically target energy drinks containing more than 150mg of caffeine per litre, including popular brands like Monster and Red Bull, while non-caffeinated beverages will remain unaffected. Health Secretary Wes Streeting noted the detrimental effects of these drinks on children's health and educational outcomes. A consultation period has begun to gather feedback from various stakeholders, although no official implementation date has been announced yet.
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The ban is expected to reduce health risks associated with high-caffeine drinks among children.
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