London [UK], September 3: The UK government is planning to ban children under 16 from buying energy drinks amid concerns they cause obesity, sleep problems and poor concentration.
Children in the UK will be protected from the harmful effects of energy drinks with high caffeine content, according to a statement from the Department of Health and Social Care, with proposals announced on September 2.
The proposal includes a ban on the sale of energy drinks with a caffeine content of 150 mg/l to under-16s in all retail formats, including online, shops, restaurants, cafes and vending machines. It would not ban low -caffeine soft drinks , tea or coffee.
This will have a major impact and force energy drink brands such as Red Bull, Monster, Relentless and Prime Energy to adjust their ingredients. For example, a 250ml can of Red Bull sold in the UK contains 80mg of caffeine, according to The Guardian .
The UK government said there would be a 12-week consultation, aimed at gathering input from health experts, education leaders, manufacturers and the public on the implementation of the ban.
"Energy drinks may seem harmless but the sleep, concentration and health of today's children are all affected, while high-sugar varieties cause tooth decay and contribute to obesity," said UK Health Secretary Wes Streeting.
"How can we expect children to do well in school if they are having to drink the equivalent of two espressos a day?" Mr Streeting added.
Supermarkets voluntarily stopped selling the drinks to under-16s in 2018. However, some smaller convenience stores still allow under-16s to buy them. British authorities estimate that a third of children consume energy drinks every week.
Teachers have expressed concerns that energy drink use before school is making young children "hyperactive in class".
Education Secretary Bridget Phillipson said the move would help tackle poor behaviour in the classroom, partly due to the "harmful effects of caffeinated drinks".
Source: Thanh Nien Newspaper
