A response to the 'Banning the Sale of High-caffeine Energy Drinks to Children' government consultation

Executive Summary

This consultation response from the Centre for Food Policy, City St George’s, University of London and the University of Southampton strongly support a legal ban on the sale of high caffeine energy drinks to children. The evidence shows clear links between energy drink consumption and negative effects on children and young people’s physical and mental health, including headaches, poor sleep, irritability, anxiety, and reduced academic performance. Children in more deprived communities are also more likely to consume these drinks, highlighting the importance of this national ban to protect the health of all children and help reduce inequalities. Our submission argues that relying on voluntary action has not been effective. Implementing a age-of-purchase ban set at 18 will protect those legally defined as children and offers the strongest approach to safeguarding their health.

We strongly recommend that government set the age limit at 18 years rather than 16 years to align with regulations on other harmful products and facilitate consistent implementation and high levels of compliance. We recommend that the ban apply across all sectors, covering physical and online sales. We highlight the importance of vending machines being prohibited from selling energy drinks because age checks are not possible on these machines.

We also emphasise the importance of clear guidance and adequate, ring-fenced funding for enforcement by local authorities to ensure the regulations’ benefits are felt by all children.

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