Government could ban the sale of energy drinks to under 16s as part of a continued crackdown on kids’ caffeine consumption
Major supermarkets like Tesco, Lidl and Asda have already taken the ban on board and refused to sell energy drinks to children
THE Government could ban the sale of energy drinks to people under 16 as part of a continued crackdown on kids consuming high-caffeine drinks.
Boots was the latest retailer, and the only non-supermarket, to announce it will stop selling energy drinks to children earlier this month.
Major supermarkets like Tesco, lidl and Asda have already taken the ban on board and refused to sell energy drinks to children.
But the Government is now being urged to follow the lead of Britain's retailers and restrict the sale of these drinks to young people.
Blaenau Gwent MP Labour’s Nick Smith raised the issue during Commons Health and Social Care questions.
He said: "Energy drinks packed with caffeine have been connected to problems with children’s health.
"Now Tesco, Asda and Aldi have banned the sale of these drinks to under 16s, so will the Government do the same?."
Health minister Jackie Doyle-Price told MPs that the Government is becoming increasingly conscious of drinks with additional unnatural stimulants and their impact on people’s health.
She added that the issue becomes more acute when it comes to children’s health.
She said: "So we will look more closely at this, but I’m glad he’s highlighted the initiatives taken by individual retailers, because it’s up them to actually implement good practice."
This January Theresa May already promised to look into banning fizzy drinks for under 18s
According to TV chef Jamie Oliver, who has long campaigned to change Britain's eating habits, a Government ban would ensure that smaller, independent shops also stopped selling the drinks.
One can of the popular Rockstar energy drink can contain between 14 and 16 teaspoons worth of sugar depending on the flavour.
The maximum daily intake of sugar for an 11 year old is seven tea spoons.
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The NHS advises that children should avoid fizzy drinks completely.
Waitrose was the first supermarket to ban kids from buying high-caffeine energy drinks in January.
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