Following in the footsteps of many countries around the world, and delivering on Labour’s Manifesto commitment, we are pleased to see the government moving forward with a consultation on a ban for selling high-caffeine energy drinks for under-16, due to negative impacts on children’s physical and mental health. This is incredibly welcome and long overdue.
Read the Government’s Press Release here, the Consultation here, the Ministerial Statement here, and as reported in The Guardian
The consultation estimates this proposal could prevent obesity in up to 40,000 children and deliver health benefits worth tens of millions of pounds. Around 100,000 children consume at least one high caffeine energy drink every day,
There is growing evidence linking these drinks to harmful effects on children, including disrupted sleep, increased anxiety, poor concentration and reduced educational outcomes.
Katharine Jenner, Director, Obesity Health Alliance, said:
“High-caffeine energy drinks have no place in children’s hands. We fully support the government’s proposal to ban sales of high-caffeine energy drinks to under-16s. This is a common-sense, evidence-based step to protect children’s physical, mental, and dental health.
“Age-of-sale policies like this have a proven record of reducing access to products that are not suitable for children, and will help create an environment that supports healthier choices for future generations.”
The proposal would make it illegal to sell high-caffeine energy drinks containing more than 150mg of caffeine per litre to anyone aged under 16 years, these drinks already require warning labels stating they are not recommended for children. The proposals would not affect lower-caffeine soft drinks nor tea and coffee.
Many major retailers already voluntarily restrict sales, but research suggests some smaller convenience stores continue selling to children, highlighting the need for a consistent approach that protects our children and is fairer for industry. We are particularly encouraged that the proposed ban is expected to include all retailers, including online, in shops, restaurants, cafes and vending machines, ensuring a comprehensive approach that closes potential loopholes. This widespread application is vital for its success.
Health and Social Care Secretary, Wes Streeting, said:
“How 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?
“Energy drinks might seem harmless, but the sleep, concentration and wellbeing of today’s kids are all being impacted, while high sugar versions damage their teeth and contribute to obesity.
“As part of our Plan for Change and shift from treatment to prevention, we’re acting on the concerns of parents and teachers and tackling the root causes of poor health and educational attainment head on.
“By preventing shops from selling these drinks to kids, we’re helping build the foundations for healthier and happier generations to come.
This policy is a significant step in the right direction and can contribute towards tackling the widening and enduring health inequalities among children. We know that food-related health conditions, such as dental decay and obesity, disproportionately affect children living in the most deprived communities. By limiting access to these drinks, which are highly acidic and often ladened with sugar, we can help to narrow the gap and provide a more equitable start for all children.
The mechanism of an age-of-sale bans, much like the “smokefree generation” legislation, is a powerful and effective tool for restricting young people’s access to harmful products. And while this is one piece of a much larger puzzle, it is a critical one.
Many other countries already have bans, such as Poland (under 18 since Jan 2024), Estonia (under 18 since Jan 2024), Latvia (under 18 since 2016) and Lithuania (under 18 since 2014) or will be implementing them soon, such as Norway, whose ban was originally approved in law in June 2023, and will come into force in January 2026 for under-16s, inspired by the consultation and proposals for England back in 2018.
Effective enforcement will be key to making this ban successful, and it’s important that this policy is not just seen as a token gesture. It must be part of a broader strategy to improve children’s health. Nevertheless, this remains a meaningful step forwards towards making the healthier choice the easier choice for everyone, especially for our children.
The consultation on delivery of the ban will run for twelve weeks, closing on 26 November 2025, gathering evidence from health experts, education leaders, retailers, manufacturers, local enforcement authorities and the public.
A systematic review of 57 studies, on over 1.2 million children and young people, reported a link between consumption of energy drinks and: increased frequency of headaches, irritation, tiredness and stomach aches; reduced sleep duration and quality; and increased risk of emotional difficulties, such as stress, anxiety and depression. Study available here: Consumption of energy drinks by children and young people: a systematic review examining evidence of physical effects and consumer attitudes – ScienceDirect
The study author, Professor Amelia Lake, Professor of Public Health Nutrition, Teesside University and Deputy Director of Fuse the Centre for Translational Research in Public Health said:
“Our research has shown the significant mental and physical health consequences of children drinking energy drinks. We have reviewed evidence from around the world and have shown that these drinks have no place in the diets of children.
“Other countries have age-restricted sales of energy drinks, Norway has recently announced their restrictions starting in 2026. I welcome this consultation, it will be a step forward in prioritising the health and wellbeing of our young population.”
Obesity Health Alliance Members have responded:
Carrera, a Bite Back activist from Milton Keynes, said:
“Energy drinks have become the social currency of the playground — cheap, brightly packaged, and easier to buy than water. They’re aggressively marketed to us, especially online, despite serious health risks.
“We feel pressured to drink them, especially during exam season, when stress is high and healthier options are hard to find. This ban is a step in the right direction — but bold action on marketing and access must follow.”
Barbara Crowther of the Children’s Food Campaign at Sustain, an alliance of over 100 food, farming and health organisations, said:
“High caffeine energy drinks already carry warning labels saying ‘not suitable for children’, so it’s absolutely right for the government to limit them from being sold to children too.
“They are branded and marketed to appeal to young people through sports and influencers and far too easily purchased by children in shops, cafes and vending machines. Parents, teachers and health professionals have all called for this policy, so let’s get involved with the consultation and support children’s health.”
Sarah Muckle, Policy Lead for Children and Young People at the Association of Directors of Public Health and Director of Public Health for Essex, said:
“Our children and young people deserve the opportunity to grow up in an environment which nurtures their potential, provides them with easy access to healthy food, drink and activities, and helps them thrive.
“Energy drinks, which are currently made incredibly attractive and affordable to children through targeted advertising and marketing campaigns funded by the industry, are associated with a wide range of physical and mental health issues and so we are very pleased to see the Government acting on its promise to protect children’s health in this way.
“A ban will not only make a huge difference to individual children’s health but will also have the knock-on consequence of enabling our children and young people to take a more active role in their education and their communities – something that will benefit everyone.”
Professor Tracy Daszkiewicz, President of the Faculty of Public Health, said:
“Mounting evidence shows us that high-caffeine energy drinks are damaging the health of children across the UK, particularly those from deprived communities who are already at higher risk of obesity and other health issues.
“We welcome this public health intervention to limit access to these drinks and help support the physical and mental wellbeing of our young people.”
Professor Steve Turner, President of the Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health, said:
“Paediatricians are very clear that children or teenagers do not need energy drinks. Young people get their energy from sleep, a healthy balanced diet, regular exercise and meaningful connection with family and friends. There’s no evidence that caffeine or other stimulants in these products offer any nutritional or developmental benefit, in fact growing research points to serious risks for behaviour and mental health. Banning the sale of these products to under-16s is the next logical step in making the diet of our nation’s children more healthy.”
Rebecca Tobi, Senior Business and Investor Engagement Manager, The Food Foundation, said:
“Caffeine is a very potent stimulant, as many adults know all too well, so it’s very welcome to see the government moving forward with their commitment to ban the sale of energy drinks to children. Caffeine and energy drinks should have no place in children’s diets, yet remain heavily marketed to children. As well as needing to ban sales of high caffeine drinks across all places where children can buy them, government and businesses should also look to ensure these drinks aren’t constantly promoted to children – for example on gaming platforms.”
Lindsey Marston, Policy and Campaign Manager, British Dietetic Association:
“We strongly welcome this initiative to restrict high-caffeine energy drinks for under-16s. There is no evidence that these products offer nutritional value, they contribute to poor dietary habits and pose a rise to physical and mental wellbeing. This consultation is a positive step toward safeguarding children’s health and promoting healthier, more equitable futures”
Dr Kawther Hashem, Head of Research and Impact at Action on Sugar, Queen Mary University of London, said:
“We strongly welcome the government’s consultation on an age-of-sale ban for high-caffeine energy drinks for under-16s. These drinks are unnecessary, harmful, and should never have been so easily available to children.
“The free sugars in these products increase the risk of obesity, type 2 diabetes, and tooth decay, while the high caffeine content can harm young people’s mental health and wellbeing. By ensuring the ban applies across vending machines and convenience stores, the government has the chance to close loopholes and make this policy effective.
“This is an important step in protecting children’s health, particularly those in more deprived communities who face the highest risk of diet-related illness. But success will ultimately depend on proper enforcement so that this ban delivers the safeguarding children urgently need.”
Notes
Average caffeine levels (source DHSC):
- can of cola contains 40mg caffeine
- mug of tea contains around 75mg caffeine
- coffee can contain 80mg caffeine in an espresso or 100mg caffeine in a mug of instant coffee
- a single can of Red Bull (250ml) contains 80mg = 320 per litre caffeine, the same as one espresso or two cans of cola per can
- a single can Monster or Relentless Energy Drinks (500ml) contains 160mg = 320 caffeine, the same as two espressos or four cans of cola per can
- Prime Energy (330ml) contains 140mg = 420 mg caffeine, the same as almost two espressos and over three colas per can