BEVERAGE BAN
Will there be an energy drink ban in the UK and how old do you need to be to buy Red Bull and Monster?
The government is set to bar teens from purchasing the highly caffeinated sugary beverages in a bid to curb childhood obesity
THE government is set to ban the selling energy drinks to kids.
Here’s what we know about the proposal.
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Will there be a ban energy drinks in the UK?
Theresa May is set to ban the sale of energy drinks to kids in a sugary beverages crackdown.
The sweeping ban, to cover higher caffeine drinks like Red Bull and Monster, will apply to all retailers.
The government is to launch at 12-week consultation on whether to set the ban at 16 or 18.
Speaking during her Africa tour, the Prime Minister said: “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.
“It is vital that we do all we can to make sure children have the best start in life and I encourage everyone to put forward their views.”
A Downing Street source added “it is a question of how, not whether we do it.”
How old do you currently have to be to buy energy drinks?
This new crackdown has come after supermarket regulations prohibiting under-16s from consuming the dangerous cans was branded a failure by health chiefs.
Almost a third of teens have consumed the drinks - with a quarter of 6 to 9-year-olds admitting to buying the high-sugar beverages.
Existing industry labelling guidelines require any high caffeine drinks to carry a warning and state it is not recommended for children.
But now the sale of any drink with more than 150mg of caffeine per litre is to be put under similar restrictions used to protect kids from fireworks and cigarettes in shops.
Are energy drinks bad for your health?
Red Bull has more than 80mg of caffeine in a single 250ml can - putting it well within in the scope of the ban.
Monster Energy which comes in 440ml cans has 140mg caffeine per serving.
Ministers claim that excessive consumption of these drinks has already been linked to health issues in children like headaches, sleep problems, stomach aches and hyperactivity.
And teachers claim the drinks lead to bad behaviour in the classrooms - with British adolescents consuming 50 per cent more cans than European school kids.
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What has been said about the energy drink ban?
Public Health Minister Steve Brine said: “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."
Chief Executive of Public Health England Duncan Selbie added: “Children do not need energy drinks to get through the day – they offer nothing more than unnecessary sugar
“Restricting the sale of these drinks is another bold step needed to turn the tide on childhood obesity.”
The measure comes in the next wave of the Childhood Obesity Strategy, but sparked an angry backlash from some in Government.
One senior Minister hit out that government policy has been reduced to “a ban a day” after electric shock dog collars and clampdowns on single use plastic.
They fumed: "Every day, something else banned. It's just so depressing."
However the move was welcomed by Jamie Oliver who said: “We have a massive problem with kids and energy drinks."
The campaigning TV chef added: “Too many children are regularly using them to replace breakfast.
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“Teachers from across the country have told me how their lessons are disrupted in classrooms because of these drinks, packed with stimulants.
He added: “It’s really great news that the government is announcing their intention to stop selling these drinks to kids.
“I’m sure parents and health experts across the UK will happily tell the Government this is the right thing to do.”
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