UK to ban sales of high-caffeine energy drinks to under-16s
The UK government has announced plans to prohibit the sale of high-caffeine energy drinks to children under the age of 16 in England from April next year, saying the measure is aimed at protecting young people’s health.
The proposed ban, which requires parliamentary approval, will apply to drinks containing more than 150 milligrams of caffeine per litre and will cover purchases from shops, vending machines and online retailers.
Ministers said an estimated 100,000 children in England consume these drinks daily, pointing to research that associates high caffeine intake with issues such as disrupted sleep, anxiety and reduced concentration.
The move forms part of a wider set of child protection measures introduced by the government under outgoing Prime Minister Keir Starmer, aimed at addressing risks affecting children and teenagers.
Other planned measures include restricting social media access for under-16s and introducing default overnight social media limits for 16- and 17-year-olds, with the government arguing that the policies will help improve young people’s health, sleep patterns and overall wellbeing.
Source: Reuters
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