The UK government has announced plans to prohibit the sale of high-caffeine energy drinks such as Red Bull to children under the age of 16 in England.
Health Minister Wes Streeting said the move aims to lay the groundwork for healthier future generations. “By stopping retailers from selling these drinks to kids, we’re creating the foundations for healthier and happier generations to come,” he stated.
Despite a voluntary ban by most supermarkets, the government says that up to one-third of 13- to 16-year-olds in England still consume energy drinks, some of which contain more caffeine than two cups of coffee.
How can we expect children to perform well at school when many are consuming the equivalent of a double espresso each day? Streeting asked. We’re responding to the concerns of parents and teachers by addressing the root causes of poor health and low academic performance.
A 12-week consultation period has been launched to gather input from health experts, the public, retailers, and manufacturers.
Currently, drinks with more than 150mg of caffeine per litre must carry a label warning that they are not recommended for children.
Energy drinks may appear harmless, Streeting added, but not too good.
