England is poised to introduce a sweeping ban on the sale of high-caffeine energy drinks to anyone under the age of 16, marking a significant public health intervention aimed at protecting young people from the adverse effects of excessive caffeine and sugar. The proposed law, announced by the government and set to be enforced across all retail environments—including online platforms, shops, restaurants, cafés, and vending machines—targets beverages containing more than 150mg of caffeine per litre. This threshold captures popular brands such as Red Bull, Monster, Relentless, and Prime, all of which will be off-limits to under-16s once the ban takes effect.
Lower-caffeine soft drinks—like Coca-Cola, Coca-Cola Zero, Diet Coke, and Pepsi—along with tea and coffee, are not affected by the new rules, a distinction officials hope will minimize disruption for retailers and consumers alike. According to the BBC, the move comes after mounting evidence of health risks posed by high-caffeine energy drinks, particularly for younger consumers whose bodies and brains are still developing.
Despite voluntary restrictions already in place at major supermarket chains such as Tesco, Sainsbury’s, Waitrose, Morrisons, and Asda, research from the Department of Health and Social Care indicates that some smaller convenience stores continue to sell these drinks to children. Ministers argue that the new law will close these loopholes and create a level playing field for all retailers.
The government’s decision is underpinned by troubling statistics. Approximately 100,000 children are estimated to consume at least one high-caffeine energy drink every day, and up to one in three 13- to 16-year-olds, as well as nearly a quarter of 11- to 12-year-olds, are thought to drink these products weekly. Health Secretary Wes Streeting raised concerns about the impact on academic performance and wellbeing: “How can we expect children to do well at school if they have the equivalent of a double espresso 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.”
Indeed, the government claims the ban could help tackle obesity in as many as 40,000 children and prevent associated problems such as sleep disruption, heightened anxiety, and poor concentration. The Daily Mail reports that the move is also a response to widespread parental and teacher concern. A Department for Education survey found that 82% of parents worry about the negative effects of high-caffeine energy drinks, while 61% of teachers agreed or strongly agreed that such consumption negatively impacts pupil health and wellbeing.
Education Secretary Bridget Phillipson connected the dots between energy drinks and classroom behaviour, stating, “This Government inherited a scourge of poor classroom behaviour that undermines the learning of too many children – partly driven by the harmful effects of caffeine-loaded drinks – and today’s announcement is another step forward in addressing that legacy.”
Current labelling laws already require drinks with over 150mg of caffeine per litre (other than tea and coffee) to carry warnings: “High caffeine content. Not recommended for children or pregnant or breast-feeding women.” However, as BBC highlights, warning labels alone have not curbed youth consumption. Some energy drinks contain more caffeine than two cups of coffee, and excessive intake has been linked to headaches, sleep problems, rapid heart rates, abnormal heart rhythms, and—though rare—even seizures and deaths.
Medical experts have welcomed the proposed ban. Professor Steve Turner, president of the Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health, remarked, “Paediatricians are very clear that children or teenagers do not need energy drinks. Young people get their energy from sleep, a healthy balanced diet, regular exercise and meaningful connection with family and friends. There’s no evidence that caffeine or other stimulants in these products offer any nutritional or developmental benefit, in fact growing research points to serious risks for behaviour and mental health. Banning the sale of these products to under-16s is the next logical step in making the diet of our nation’s children more healthy.”
Professor Amelia Lake of Teesside University, whose research has explored the impact of energy drinks on young people, added, “Our research has shown the significant mental and physical health consequences of children drinking energy drinks. We have reviewed evidence from around the world and have shown that these drinks have no place in the diets of children.”
Public health advocates have echoed these sentiments. Katharine Jenner, director of the Obesity Health Alliance, called the ban a “common-sense, evidence-based step to protect children’s physical, mental, and dental health.” Dr Kawther Hashem of Action on Sugar at Queen Mary University of London argued, “We strongly welcome the government’s consultation on an age-of-sale ban for high-caffeine energy drinks for under-16s. These drinks are unnecessary, harmful, and should never have been so easily available to children.”
Youth voices have also been prominent. Carrera, representing the youth-led campaign group Bite Back, noted, “Energy drinks have become the social currency of the playground – cheap, brightly packaged, and easier to buy than water. They’re aggressively marketed to us, especially online, despite serious health risks. We feel pressured to drink them, especially during exam season, when stress is high and healthier options are hard to find. This ban is a step in the right direction, but bold action on marketing and access must follow.”
On the other side of the debate, the beverage industry maintains that it is already acting responsibly. Gavin Partington, director general of the British Soft Drinks Association, stated, “Our members have led the way in self-regulation through our long-standing energy drinks code of practice. Our members do not market or promote the sale of energy drinks to under-16s and label all high-caffeine beverages as ‘not recommended for children’, in line with and in the spirit of this code. As with all Government policy, it’s essential that any forthcoming regulation is based on a rigorous assessment of the evidence that’s available.”
The government has launched a 12-week consultation, beginning September 2, 2025, to gather input from health and education specialists, retailers, manufacturers, local enforcement officials, and the public. This process is expected to shape the final details of the legislation, ensuring that the ban is both effective and enforceable. Notably, the BBC reports that Northern Ireland, Scotland, and Wales are also considering similar measures, suggesting a UK-wide shift could be on the horizon.
As the consultation unfolds, the debate continues over how best to protect young people from the harms of high-caffeine energy drinks while respecting consumer choice and business interests. But for many parents, teachers, and health professionals, the proposed ban represents a decisive step toward healthier futures for England’s children.
