The Government is following Labour's lead on energy drinks ban but pushing back decision with yet another consultation - Hodgson

Sharon Hodgson MP, Labour’s Shadow Minister for Public Health, commenting on the Government’s proposals to consult on banning the sale of energy drinks to children, said:

“It is good to see the Prime Minister following Labour’s lead with proposals for a ban on the sale of energy drinks to children, but yet again a decision has been pushed back with plans for yet another consultation.

“A real strategy for tackling childhood obesity should be bold and decisive and accompanied by properly funded local public health schemes to keep children fit and well. Instead this Government has given us dithering and delay and cuts to public health.

“With one in every three children overweight or obese by the time they leave primary school, and with two years already wasted by the failed 2016 obesity strategy, Ministers must take decisive action now, rather than repeatedly pushing these decisions into the future.”

Ends

Notes to Editors:

Labour has repeatedly called for a ban on the sale of energy drinks to children as part of a bold strategy to reduce childhood obesity.

· In January 2018, Labour’s Shadow Health Secretary Jonathan Ashworth said “it’s time to do something about these high energy drinks”: https://twitter.com/jonashworth/status/949381507554168833

· In March 2018 Ashworth said “it’s time to ban the sale of high-sugar energy drinks to children”. https://twitter.com/jonashworth/status/970296015193559040