Energy drinks to be banned for under-16s in England from April

Energy drinks to be banned for under-16s in England from AprilImage source, EPA/ShutterstockImage caption, Some popular energy drinks contain more caffeine than two cups of coffeeByJacob PhillipsPublished16 July 2026, 19:34 BSTUpdated Just nowChildren under 16 will be banned from buying high-caffeine energy drinks in England from April, the government has said.Drinks containing more than 150mg of caffeine per litre will be illegal to sell to children and younger teenagers in shops, restaurants, cafes, vending machines and online.Lower-caffeine soft drinks, such Diet Coke, are not affected and neither are tea and coffee. However, drinks including Red Bull, Monster, Relentless and Prime would all breach the limit.The new rules aim to reduce obesity levels in children and prevent issues such as disrupted sleep, increased anxiety and lack of concentration, as well as poor school results.Announcing the new measures, first proposed last year, Public Health Minister Sharon Hodgson said the ban "demonstrates our firm commitment to creating the healthiest generation of children ever".The ban, subject to parliamentary approval, will be enforced by local authorities and businesses that break the law could face fines of up to £2,500.Around 100,000 children in England consume energy drinks every day and has warned the beverages can also impact pupils' ability to focus at school Some popular drinks brands contain more caffeine than two cups of coffee or four cans of cola. Excessive consumption has been linked to headaches and sleep problems.Experts say young people can be more sensitive to caffeine as they have smaller bodies and their brains are still developing.The ban comes after 1,100 responses to a consultation which strongly supported introducing an age restriction on the drinks, external.The new rules will come in via secondary legislation using powers from the Food Safety Act 1990.Too much caffeine can cause a rapid heart rate, abnormal heart rhythms and se...