Energy drinks to be banned for under-16s in England from April

Energy drinks will be banned for anyone under 16 in England from April, after a consultation that gathered 1,100 responses and showed strong support for introducing regulation on the products. The new rules will take effect through secondary legislation using powers from the Food Safety Act 1990. Excess caffeine can cause a rapid heart rate, abnormal heart rhythms and seizures. Although rare, there have been some deaths linked to too much caffeine. The sugary versions of the drinks can also contribute to obesity and damage teeth, according to the Association of UK Dieticians. At present, any drink other than tea or coffee containing more than 150mg of caffeine must carry a warning stating it is not recommended for children, pregnant women or those who are breast‑feeding. For most adults, up to 400mg of caffeine a day – roughly equivalent to four cups of instant coffee or five cups of tea – is considered safe. Katharine Jenner, Executive Director of the Obesity Health Alliance, welcomed the move and said restricting the sale of the drinks to children "at a captious clip successful their beingness is conscionable common-sense". The British Soft Drinks Association described the ban as "unnecessary". A spokesperson for the association said: "Since 2010, our members person committed not to marketplace oregon beforehand the merchantability of vigor drinks to under-16s, and each high-caffeine beverages transportation a 'not recommended for children' label.". The previous Conservative administration had intended to introduce the ban but withdrew the plan in 2022, arguing that consumption should be a personal choice. Northern Ireland, Scotland and Wales are also looking at similar restrictions.