The Government has announced plans to ban the sale of high-caffeine energy drinks to under-16s.
The move it says could prevent obesity in up to 40,000 children and deliver health benefits worth tens of millions of pounds.
Around 100,000 children consume at least one high caffeine energy drink every day. There is growing evidence linking these drinks to harmful effects on children, including disrupted sleep, increased anxiety, poor concentration and reduced educational outcomes.
Health and Social Care Secretary Wes Streeting said:
How can we expect children to do well at school if they have the equivalent of four cans of cola in their system on a daily basis?
Energy drinks might seem harmless, but the sleep, concentration and wellbeing of today’s kids are all being impacted, while high sugar versions damage their teeth and contribute to obesity.
As part of our Plan for Change and shift from treatment to prevention, we’re acting on the concerns of parents and teachers and tackling the root causes of poor health and educational attainment head on.
By preventing shops from selling these drinks to kids, we’re helping build the foundations for healthier and happier generations to come.
Research highlights that up to one third of children aged 13 to 16 years, and nearly a quarter of children aged 11 to 12 years consume one or more of these drinks each week, so early intervention is crucial if we are to deliver on our pledge to create the healthiest generation of children ever.
This is backed by parents, teachers and teaching unions who report on pupils being unable to concentrate and focus and even negatively affecting grades and academic performance. Evidence also shows that children from more deprived communities are more likely to consume these products – further contributing to health inequalities across the country.
