Energy drinks to be banned for under 16s

The government provides for a new law in England to prevent anyone under the age of 16 from buying energy drinks such as Red Bull, Monster and Prime in stores, restaurants, cafes, automatic and online distributors.

It is believed that up to a third of British children consume these types of drinks each week, despite most supermarkets that have already introduced a voluntary ban.

Some popular drinks contain more caffeine than two cups of coffee.

The Secretary of Health and Social Care, Wes Streting, said that he was acting on the concerns of parents and teachers and attacked the “front” problem, to protect the health of young people.

Low cregisation soft drinks, these diet cokes are not affected, and either tea and coffee.

A consultation will now take place for 12 weeks to collect evidence of health and education experts as well as the public and retailers and manufacturers.

The head of television, Jamie Oliver, repeatedly warned the dangers and disturbances that energy drinks can cause, with children coming to school “bouncing on the walls” having taken energy drinks for breakfast.

“We are talking about three, four espresso strokes in one of these things. A lot of sugar. So an absolute nightmare,” he said in a video published on X last year.

Excessive consumption is linked to headaches and sleep problems.

Too much caffeine can cause rapid heart rate, also abnormal heart rhythms.

Although rare, some deaths have been linked to excess caffeine.

Depending on the current labeling rules, any drink, other than tea or coffee, with more than 150 mg of caffeine per liter requires a warning label saying: “High caffeine content. Not recommended for children or pregnant women or breastfeeding.”

Young people have smaller bodies and their brains are still developing, which can make them more sensitive to caffeine, say experts.

For most adults, up to 400 mg of caffeine per day, or about four cups of instant coffee or five cups of tea, is safe.

“By preventing stores from selling these drinks to children, we help to build healthier and happier and happier generations to come,” Street said.

Professor Steve Turner, president of the Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health, said that a prohibition was the “next logical step” to make diets for healthier children.

And Professor Amelia Lake of the University of Teesside, who studied the impact of drinks on the lives of young people, said that they had “no place” in the food of children.

“Our research has shown the important consequences on the mental and physical health of children to drink energy drinks.

“We know that these drinks are part of the culture of young people and associated with sports, games, music and even more, but there is a lack of clear signaling on their health consequences.”

But Gavin Partington of the British Soft Drinks Association said that manufacturers had already paved the way for self-regulation.

“As with all government policy, it is essential that any upcoming regulations be based on a rigorous evaluation of available evidence,” he added.

Northern Ireland, Scotland and Wales also envisage a ban.