England is preparing to outlaw the sale of energy drinks to anyone under 16, with ministers warning that the caffeine and sugar load in products such as Red Bull, Monster, Relentless, and Prime Energy is placing too heavy a burden on children’s health. The move will cover shops, cafes, restaurants, online outlets, and vending machines, closing the gaps that remain despite most big supermarkets already stopping sales to minors several years ago.
The threshold is being set at 150 milligrams of caffeine per litre. Drinks that exceed this level, which includes most mainstream energy products, will no longer be available to young teenagers. Tea, coffee, and common soft drinks will not be touched by the change.
One of the reasons behind the decision lies in the way caffeine affects the body differently by age. Medical guidance suggests safe daily intake varies widely, with recommendations shifting as body size and metabolism change:
| Age Group | Recommended Caffeine Intake Range |
|---|---|
| Very elderly (75+ years) | 22–417 mg |
| Elderly (65–75 years) | 23–362 mg |
| Adults (18–65 years) | 37–319 mg |
| Adolescents (10–18 years) | 0.4–1.4 mg per kg body weight |
| Children (3–10 years) | 0.2–2.0 mg per kg body weight |
| Toddlers (12–36 months) | 0–2.1 mg per kg body weight |
Children are more sensitive because their bodies are smaller and their nervous systems are still developing. This makes even a single can of an energy drink a potentially excessive dose.
To put the numbers into perspective, here is how some familiar drinks compare in terms of caffeine:
| Drink | Caffeine Equivalent |
|---|---|
| Can of cola (355ml) | 40mg |
| Mug of black tea (250ml) | ~50mg |
| Double espresso (60ml) | 80mg |
| Mug of instant coffee (250ml) | 100mg |
| Can of Red Bull (250ml) | 80mg = 2 cans of cola or 1 double espresso |
| Can of Monster/Relentless (500ml) | 160mg = 4 cans of cola or 2 double espressos |
| Can of Prime energy drink (330ml) | 140mg = 3.5 cans of cola or 1.5 double espressos |
Supporters of the policy point to problems already visible in schools. Teachers often report that children turn up in the morning overstimulated, unable to sit still or pay attention, after consuming energy drinks on their way in. Some researchers warn that regular intake also fuels sleep loss, headaches, and, in rare cases, serious complications such as irregular heart rhythms. Dentists, meanwhile, argue that high sugar and acidity levels are steadily eroding young people’s teeth, even in the “diet” versions.
The rules will be enforced under the Food Safety Act, although the precise date of introduction has not yet been confirmed. Officials say the ban will be enacted well before the end of the current parliament, and a twelve-week consultation has been launched to gather responses from schools, health bodies, parents, the public, and the drinks industry.
While companies already place warning labels on their cans and have codes of practice discouraging marketing to children, campaigners maintain that voluntary measures are not enough. They argue that the drinks have become tied to youth culture through sports, gaming, music, and social media influencers, which makes self-regulation less effective.
The government is framing the change as part of a wider effort to improve child health, in the same way that restricting tobacco and alcohol sales was once seen as necessary. Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland are now considering parallel moves, which could bring consistency across the UK.
Notes: This post was edited/created using GenAI tools.
Read next: OpenAI Adds Projects for Free ChatGPT Users and Expands Enterprise Security and File Access
