Under-16s in England will be banned from buying energy drinks such as Red Bull and Monster because they fuel obesity, cause sleep problems and leave them unable to concentrate.<\/p>\n
Health experts, teaching unions and dentists welcomed the ban and said it would boost children and young people\u2019s health. It fulfils a pledge Labour included in its manifesto<\/a> for last year\u2019s general election.<\/p>\n \u201cHow can we expect children to do well at school if they have the equivalent of a double espresso in their system on a daily basis?\u201d, said Wes Streeting<\/a>, the health secretary.<\/p>\n \u201cEnergy drinks might seem harmless but the sleep, concentration and wellbeing of today\u2019s kids are all being impacted, while high sugar versions damage their teeth and contribute to obesity.\u201d<\/p>\n Shops, cafes, restaurants and websites will be prohibited from selling energy drinks containing more than 150mg of caffeine per litre to anyone under 16. That will affect drinks such as Red Bull, Monster, Relentless and Prime Energy and force their makers to reformulate their products.<\/p>\n For example, a 250ml can of Red Bull contains 80mg of caffeine, the same as one espresso or two cans of cola. Tea, coffee and soft drinks containing lower amounts of caffeine will be unaffected.<\/p>\n It is unclear when sales to under-16s \u2013 including from vending machines \u2013 will become illegal. The ban will be done using secondary legislation under the Food Safety Act 1990.<\/p>\n Supermarkets voluntarily stopped selling the drinks to under-16s in 2018. But some smaller convenience stores still allow under-16s to buy them. Drinks containing more than 150mg of caffeine per litre already carry warning labels that they are \u201cnot suitable for children\u201d.<\/p>\n \u201cHigh-caffeine energy drinks have no place in children\u2019s hands. This is a common sense, evidence-based step to protect children\u2019s physical, mental and dental health\u201d, said Katharine Jenner, the director of the Obesity Health Alliance<\/a>.<\/p>\n The success of preventing young people buying alcohol and cigarettes showed that age-based restrictions work, Jenner added. \u201cAge-of-sale policies like this have a proven record of reducing access to products that are not suitable for children.\u201d<\/p>\n Teachers have voiced concern about how energy drinks have left young children \u201cbouncing off the walls in lesson time\u201d after consuming them on their way to school.<\/p>\n Bridget Phillipson, the education secretary, said the move would help tackle the \u201cscourge of poor classroom behaviour\u201d, which is caused in part by \u201cthe harmful effects of caffeine-loaded drinks\u201d.<\/p>\n