Under-16s to be banned from buying energy drinks

The sale of high-caffeine energy drinks to under-16s is to be banned in England from April next year.

It will be illegal to sell energy drinks containing more than 150mg of caffeine per litre to anyone under 16 across all retailers, including online, in shops, restaurants, and cafes.

Politics latest: Zelenskyy 'afraid of changes' as Starmer bows out

Energy drinks will also be banned from all vending machines, to prevent under-16s from buying them there.

One energy drink can contain the same amount of caffeine as two coffees or four cans of coke, with up to a third of children in the UK consuming at least one energy drink every week, particularly boys.

Tea, coffee, and lower-caffeine soft drinks - such as Coca-Cola and Pepsi - are not affected.

But drinks that currently breach the limit and would be part of the ban include Red Bull, Monster, Relentless, and Prime. They already carry warnings stating they are not recommended for children.

Major supermarkets have already voluntarily stopped sales of the drinks to youngsters, but the Department of Health said research suggests some smaller convenience stores are still selling them to children.

The ban will be enforced by trading standards.

Public health minister Sharon Hodgson said: "We know about the damage to young people: affecting their sleep, their concentration in class, their behaviour."

The government confirmed their intent to implement a ban last autumn and launched a 12-week consultation.

Hodgson said ministers had heard "from so many parents and teachers across the country, they see the difference when the kids are 'wired' when they're on these high caffeine energy drinks, but it was perfectly legal.

"Well now we're empowering parents and teachers and shopkeepers to say 'no, you don't have to sell these to children under 16 anymore, they're banned'."

Labour committed in their 2024 manifesto to banning the sale of high-caffeine energy drinks to under-16s, as well as banning the advertising of junk food to children.

Theresa May's Conservative government also ran a consultation on banning the sale of energy drinks for children in 2018, although a ban was never implemented.

An estimated 100,000 children in England drink high-caffeine energy drinks.

Some energy drinks have gained popularity among young people in recent years, with sales of the viral drink Prime skyrocketing after being promoted by YouTubers KSI and Logan Paul.

(c) Sky News 2026: Under-16s to be banned from buying energy drinks