UK and South Korean governments take aim at energy drinks sold to children

30 Aug 2018 --- Linked to headaches and hyperactivity, among other health issues, the sale of caffeinated drinks, which are often also high in sugar, is coming under increased scrutiny. Both the South Korean and British governments have this week announced their resolve to curb the availability of such beverages to children, in an attempt to “protect children from products that are damaging to their health and education.”

UK action
The UK government announced today that it is seeking views from the public on ending the sale of energy drinks to children and young people. The consultation proposes that a ban would apply to drinks that contain more than 150mg of caffeine per liter and prevent all retailers from selling the drinks to children, British Prime Minister Theresa May has announced.

The proposed consultation follows the publication of the latest chapter of the government’s childhood obesity plan in June 2018, which outlines a series of measures as well as a commitment to halve childhood obesity by 2030.

According to an announcement by the British Department of Health and Social Care, over two-thirds of 10- to 17-year-olds and a quarter of 6- to 9-year-olds in the UK consume energy drinks. A 250ml can of energy drink can contain around 80mg of caffeine – the equivalent of nearly three cans of cola. On average, non-diet energy drinks also contain 60 percent more calories and 65 percent more sugar than other, regular soft drinks

“Childhood obesity is one of the greatest health challenges this country faces, and that’s why we are taking significant action to reduce the amounts of sugar consumed by young people and to help families make healthier choices,” May says. “With thousands of young people regularly consuming energy drinks, often because they are sold at cheaper prices than soft drinks, we will consult on banning the sale of energy drinks to children.”

“We all have a responsibility to protect children from products that are damaging to their health and education, and we know that drinks packed to the brim with caffeine, and often sugar, are becoming a common fixture of their diet,” says UK Public Health Minister Steve Brine. “Our teenagers already consume 50 percent more of these drinks than European counterparts, and teachers have made worrying links between energy drinks and poor behavior in the classroom.”

In an impact assessment accompanying the announcement of the consultation, the UK government notes that should the ban come into force, there would be relatively small administration and lost sales costs for retailers, as lost sales costs would likely be mitigated by an assumption that foregone energy drink spend shall be displaced with other sales. Energy drink manufacturers, however, would incur significant costs due to the loss of sales to under-16s.

A possible benefit, according to the assessment, would be a reduction in obesity rates and incidence of dental caries in children, leading to cost savings to the nation’s healthcare services. 

However, this is assuming that children will replace energy drinks with healthier alternatives, which is uncertain.

South Korea
The South Korean Ministry of Food and Drug Safety is banning the sales of coffee to all elementary, middle and high schools nationwide starting mid-September, The Korea Times reports.

“The revision aims to create healthy eating habits among children and teenagers,” a South Korean Ministry of Food and Drug Safety official said. “We will make sure coffee is banned at schools without fail.”

Under the current law, products high in calories or caffeine, or low in nutrition are restricted or banned at schools, including coffee milk products. However, since coffee has been classified as an adult beverage, it has been stocked in school vending machines and snack shops for teachers to consume.

The Korea Times reports that with the revision, all coffee products will be unavailable, even for teachers.

According to the South Korean Education Ministry 's 2015 research on caffeine concentration in products, coffee had the highest concentration at 449.1 milligrams per kilogram, followed by dairy products including chocolate milk, which had 277.5 milligrams per kilogram.

By Lucy Gunn