England Plans Ban on Energy Drinks for Under-16s Amid Health Concerns

Published: 03 September 2025. The English Chronicle Desk

The UK government is preparing new legislation to prohibit the sale of energy drinks to anyone under the age of 16 in England, targeting popular brands such as Red Bull, Monster, and Prime. The move is aimed at addressing mounting concerns about the health risks associated with these beverages, which contain high levels of caffeine and sugar. The proposed restrictions will apply to shops, restaurants, cafes, vending machines, and online retailers.

Health and Social Care Secretary Wes Streeting told BBC Radio 4’s Today programme that the government had been urged to act by parents, teachers, and young people themselves. “You can see the impact on health, concentration, and learning, and that is why we are acting,” he said, adding that excessive caffeine consumption among children can lead to rapid heart rate, abnormal heart rhythms, sleep disruption, headaches, and, in rare cases, seizures or death.

Studies suggest that up to a third of UK children consume energy drinks weekly, despite voluntary bans already implemented by many supermarkets. The Association of UK Dieticians has also warned that the high sugar content in these drinks contributes to obesity and dental problems. Experts note that children’s smaller bodies and developing brains make them particularly sensitive to caffeine, even when compared to safe adult consumption levels of up to 400mg per day.

A 12-week consultation will now gather input from health and education specialists, as well as retailers and manufacturers, some of whom have already introduced self-regulation measures. Striating confirmed that while no formal date has yet been set for the ban, it will come “a lot sooner” than the end of the current parliamentary term, a deadline previously indicated by the Labour government.

Youth campaigners have highlighted the appeal of energy drinks to young consumers. Carrera, 18, a member of the advocacy group Bite Back, explained that companies market these beverages using social media influencers, playful packaging, and enticing flavours, making them “social currency on the playground.” Streeting acknowledged the challenge of tackling the influence of social media advertising, noting that government policy must evolve alongside contemporary marketing strategies.

Public figures have also weighed in on the health implications. TV chef Jamie Oliver has repeatedly warned that children consuming energy drinks exhibit hyperactivity and disruptive behaviour in schools, with caffeine levels equivalent to three or four shots of espresso per serving combined with high sugar content. Current labelling regulations require beverages exceeding 150mg of caffeine per litre to display a warning advising that they are “not recommended for children or pregnant or breast-feeding women.”

Medical authorities support the proposed ban. Professor Steve Turner, president of the Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health, described it as “the next logical step” to improve children’s diets. Professor Amelia Lake from Teesside University, whose research has examined the mental and physical health impacts of energy drinks on youth, emphasized that these beverages “have no place” in the diets of children, despite their integration into youth culture through sports, gaming, and music.

Industry representatives have called for careful consideration of the evidence. Gavin Partington of the British Soft Drinks Association highlighted that manufacturers have already implemented self-regulation, urging that any forthcoming legislation be based on “a rigorous assessment of the evidence available.”

Northern Ireland, Scotland, and Wales are also reportedly considering similar bans, reflecting growing concern across the UK over the consumption of energy drinks by young people.