The UK government has announced plans to ban the sale of high-caffeine energy drinks to children under 16. Energy drinks will no longer be available to minors because of health concerns, including obesity, sleep disruption, poor concentration, and dental problems.
Under the new rules, shops, restaurants, cafés, websites, and vending machines will be prohibited from selling drinks containing more than 150mg of caffeine per litre to under-16s. Tea, coffee, and soft drinks with lower caffeine levels will not be affected.
Health secretary Wes Streeting said children could not perform well at school “with the equivalent of a double espresso in their system every day.” The policy, a Labour manifesto pledge, has been welcomed by health experts, dentists, and teachers, who argue it will protect children’s wellbeing and improve classroom behaviour.
Although major supermarkets introduced voluntary age limits in 2018, smaller retailers have continued to sell the drinks to minors. The ban will be implemented through secondary legislation under the Food Safety Act 1990, though an exact start date is yet to be confirmed.
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