The government is seeking views from the public on ending
the sale of energy drinks to children and young people in
England, the Prime Minister has announced.
The consultation proposes
that a ban would apply to drinks that contain more than
150mg of caffeine per litre and prevent all retailers from
selling the drinks to children.
It follows the publication of the latest chapter of the
government’s childhood obesity
plan in June 2018, which outlines a series of
measures as well as a commitment to halve childhood obesity
by 2030.
Questions in the consultation include:
- whether the restrictions should apply to children under
16 or under 18
- whether the law should be changed to prevent children
from buying them in any situation
Energy drinks are already banned for sale to children by
many major retailers, but children can still buy them from
vending machines and many independent convenience stores,
for example.
More than two-thirds of 10- to 17-year-olds and a quarter
of 6- to 9-year-olds consume energy drinks. A 250ml can of
energy drink can contains around 80mg of caffeine – the
equivalent of nearly 3 cans of cola. On average, non-diet
energy drinks also contain 60% more calories and 65% more
sugar than other, regular soft drinks.
Excessive consumption has been linked to a number of health
issues in children, including:
- headaches
- sleep problems
- stomach aches
- hyperactivity
Prime Minister said:
Childhood obesity is one of the greatest health
challenges this country faces, and that’s why we are
taking significant action to reduce the amounts of sugar
consumed by young people and to help families make
healthier choices.
Our plans to tackle obesity are already world leading,
but we recognise much more needs to be done and as part
of our long-term plan for the NHS, we are putting a
renewed focus on the prevention of ill-health.
With thousands of young people regularly consuming energy
drinks, often because they are sold at cheaper prices
than soft drinks, we will consult on banning the sale of
energy drinks to children.
It is vital that we do all we can to make sure children
have the best start in life and I encourage everyone to
put forward their views.
Public Health Minister said:
We all have a responsibility to protect children from
products that are damaging to their health and education,
and we know that drinks packed to the brim with caffeine,
and often sugar, are becoming a common fixture of their
diet.
Our teenagers already consume 50% more of these drinks
than European counterparts, and teachers have made
worrying links between energy drinks and poor behaviour
in the classroom.
We are asking the public for their views on the matter,
to ensure energy drinks are not being excessively
consumed by children.
