England announces landmark ban on high-caffeine energy drinks to children under 16

England will ban retailers from selling high-caffeine energy drinks to children under the age of 16, as part of broader actions to tackle mental and physical health in youth. Around 100,000 children consume at least one high-caffeine energy drink every day, experts warn. 

The proposal would make it illegal to sell high-caffeine energy drinks containing more than 150 mg of caffeine per liter to anyone aged under 16 years across all retailers, including online, in shops, restaurants, cafes, and vending machines.

High-caffeine energy drinks are defined as those containing over 150 mg of caffeine per liter, which already require warning labels stating they are not recommended for children.

The proposals will not affect lower-caffeine beverages, such as soft drinks, tea, and coffee.

“High-caffeine energy drinks have no place in children’s hands. We fully support the government’s proposal to ban sales of high-caffeine energy drinks to under-16s. This is a common-sense, evidence-based step to protect children’s physical, mental, and dental health,” says Katharine Jenner, director of Obesity Health Alliance.

“Age-of-sale policies like this have a proven record of reducing access to products that are not suitable for children and will help create an environment that supports healthier choices for future generations.”

Evidence linking these drinks to harmful effects on children is mounting, including disrupted sleep, increased anxiety, poor concentration, and reduced educational outcomes.

Backed by national health advocacy groups, the initiative aims to help prevent obesity in up to 40,000 children and deliver health benefits “worth tens of millions of pounds.”

However, Tom Sanders, professor emeritus of Nutrition and Dietetics, King’s College London, pushes back: “The need to restrict the sales of ‘high’ caffeine drinks to young people is well recognized. However, most of these drinks are not high in calories.”

“There seems to be some confusion regarding the term ‘high energy’ drinks with drinks that are high in food energy (calories). Consequently, the claim that this ban will reduce obesity in 40,000 children seems scientifically unfounded. Caffeine certainly does not promote weight gain, and the published scientific evidence is in the opposite direction.”

Popular among school-aged children

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.

Parents, teachers, and teaching unions back this initiative. They flag pupils’ inability to focus, which negatively affects 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.

England’s Health and Social Care Secretary, Wes Streeting, asks: “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 well-being of today’s kids are all being impacted, while high-sugar versions damage their teeth and contribute to obesity.”

Experts emphasize that acting now to improve children’s well-being will not only help give them the best start in life and prevent them from a lifetime of poor health, it also deliver tens of millions of pounds of health benefits as well as future savings for the National Health Service and increased economic productivity. 

“These drinks are unnecessary, harmful, and should never have been so easily available to children,” says Dr. Kawther Hashem, head of Research and Impact at Action on Sugar, Queen Mary University of London.

“The free sugars in these products increase the risk of obesity, type 2 diabetes, and tooth decay, while the high caffeine content can harm young people’s mental health and well-being. By ensuring the ban applies across vending machines and convenience stores, the government has the chance to close loopholes and make this policy effective.”

A systematic review of 57 studies, on over 1.2 million children and young people, highlights the link between energy drink consumption and increased headache frequency. Additionally, these people experience irritation, tiredness, stomach aches, reduced sleep duration and quality, and increased risk of emotional difficulties.

“Social currency” on the playground

Among parents surveyed in the England Department for Education’s Omnibus in December 2024, 82% reported feeling concerned about the potential negative effects of high-caffeine energy drink consumption on their children.

Education Secretary Bridget Phillipson says the initiative goes hand in hand with the government’s work to address the root causes of poor behavior with targeted support to hundreds of struggling schools, including updated school food standards for campus meals.

Many major retailers already voluntarily restrict sales. However, research suggests some smaller convenience stores continue selling to children, underscoring the need for a consistent approach that protects children and is fairer for the industry.

England has launched a consultation on the ban’s delivery, which will run for twelve weeks until 26, gathering evidence from health experts, education leaders, retailers, manufacturers, local enforcement authorities, and the public.

“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,” says one Bite Back activist from Milton Keynes.

“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.”

Lauren Morley from Worthing, East Sussex, is a parent to a six-year-old who works directly with young people and schools on nutrition and mental health, and is a parent ambassador with Sustain.

“As a parent of a six-year-old and an educator with 13 years’ experience, I’ve seen the harm these drinks cause,” she comments. “In schools, I’ve witnessed panic attacks, anxiety, and poor focus, often after students consume multiple cans instead of breakfast.”

“My concern grows as my child gets older. When young people stop drinking them, we see their well-being, concentration, and mood noticeably improve. I welcome the Department of Health and Social Care’s consultation on restricting high-caffeine energy drink sales to children.”

Of teachers surveyed, 61% agreed or strongly agreed that the consumption of high-caffeine energy drinks negatively impacts the health and well-being of pupils at their school.