By Eniola Amadu
The British government has announced plans for new legislation that would prohibit the sale of energy drinks to anyone under the age of 16 in England.
If approved, the restriction will apply not only to supermarkets and convenience stores but also to restaurants, cafés, vending machines and online platforms.
The move follows growing evidence that excessive consumption of energy drinks such as Red Bull, Monster and Prime is putting children at risk of serious health problems.
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Research suggests nearly one in three children in the UK consumes such drinks weekly, despite many major retailers already observing a voluntary ban.
Although often marketed as lifestyle products to young people, some brands contain more caffeine than two cups of coffee.
Experts warn that over-consumption can cause headaches, sleep disruption and, in severe cases, rapid heart rate, seizures and abnormal heart rhythms. Several deaths worldwide have also been linked to extreme caffeine intake.
Health and Social Care Secretary Wes Streeting, who confirmed the proposed ban, said government action was driven by pressure from parents, teachers and children. “You can see the impact on health, concentration and learning, and that is why we are acting,” he told the BBC.
The Labour government has launched a 12-week consultation to gather views from health experts, educators, retailers, manufacturers and the public.
While no start date has been confirmed, Streeting stressed the ban would take effect “a lot sooner” than the end of the current parliament, the timeline Labour had previously pledged.
Health campaigners and youth groups have long raised concerns. Carrera, 18, a youth activist with Bite Back, accused manufacturers of using “clever” tactics such as flashy packaging, influencer marketing and exotic flavours to attract children.
“It’s no wonder energy drinks have become the social currency of the playground,” she said.
Celebrity chef Jamie Oliver has also been outspoken, calling the drinks “an absolute nightmare” for schools, with pupils arriving for lessons “bouncing off the walls” after consuming them for breakfast.
Experts argue that, unlike tea, coffee, or low-caffeine soft drinks such as Diet Coke, energy drinks have “no place” in children’s diets.
Professor Steve Turner of the Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health described a ban as the “next logical step” for public health, while Professor Amelia Lake of Teesside University noted that their strong association with sports, music and gaming conceals the real dangers.
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The British Soft Drinks Association, however, said manufacturers had already introduced self-regulation, stressing that any new policy should be based on a “rigorous assessment of available evidence.”
Northern Ireland, Scotland and Wales are expected to introduce similar restrictions.
