UK to ban sales of high-caffeine energy drinks to under-16s

Children under the age of 16 in England will soon be banned from buying high-caffeine energy drinks such as Red Bull, Monster, Prime and Relentless under new government rules aimed at protecting children’s health.

The legislation, set to take effect from April next year, will prohibit the sale of drinks containing more than 150mg of caffeine per litre to anyone under 16. The restriction will apply across all retail channels, including supermarkets, convenience stores, online retailers, cafés, restaurants and vending machines.

The UK government said the move is part of a wider strategy to tackle childhood obesity and improve young people’s physical and mental wellbeing. Health officials have linked excessive energy drink consumption among children to disrupted sleep, anxiety, poor concentration and lower academic performance. Research suggests that up to one in three children in the UK consumes at least one energy drink every week.

While popular energy drink brands will be affected by the ban, lower-caffeine beverages such as tea, coffee, Coca-Cola and Pepsi are exempt because they fall below the caffeine threshold.

Many major supermarket chains have already introduced voluntary age restrictions on energy drink sales. However, the new legislation will create a nationwide legal standard covering all retailers, including smaller convenience stores and online sellers. Local trading standards authorities will be responsible for enforcing the new rules.

Health campaigners have welcomed the decision, describing it as a significant step towards reducing children’s exposure to high levels of caffeine and encouraging healthier dietary habits.