Britain bans the sale of energy drinks to children under 16 to protect their health

The British government announced today, Thursday (September 4, 2025), a ban on the sale of caffeine-rich energy drinks to those under the age of 16, in a move aimed at protecting children and teenagers from multiple health risks.

According to a report by the Evening Standard, the new law will prevent the sale of any drink containing more than 150 mg of caffeine per liter to children, whether in stores, online, restaurants, cafes, or vending machines.

The decision clarified that low-caffeine soft drinks like Coca-Cola and Pepsi, as well as tea and coffee, will not be included in the ban.

Some major supermarket chains had voluntarily stopped selling these drinks to children, but the Ministry of Health indicated that some small stores still sell them. The government estimates that this ban could help prevent obesity in 40,000 children, as well as reduce issues such as sleep disorders, increased anxiety, and poor concentration and academic performance.

Official statistics indicate that about 100,000 children in Britain consume at least one energy drink daily, while one-third of teenagers aged 13 to 16 and a quarter of children aged 11 to 12 consume these drinks weekly.

The new law will require companies to place clear warning labels on their products stating that they are "not intended for children."

Health Minister Wes Streeting stated that the success of the decision requires cooperation with retailers, emphasizing that many major stores are already implementing the ban by verifying the identity of buyers. He added: "We are consulting with all stakeholders to ensure full implementation of the law over the next 12 weeks."

For his part, the director general of the British Soft Drinks Association, Gavin Partington, confirmed that companies do not promote energy drinks to those under 16, noting that the sector has adopted a code of conduct for years that classifies high-caffeine drinks as "not recommended for children."