UK to ban sale of high-caffeine energy drinks to under-16s from next year

The British government has announced plans to stop the sale of high-caffeine energy drinks to children under 16 in England from April next year.

The ban, which still requires parliamentary approval, will cover drinks containing more than 150 milligrams of caffeine per litre. It will apply to purchases made in shops, vending machines and online platforms.

The government said around 100,000 children in England consume these drinks daily. Officials pointed to studies linking high-caffeine energy drinks with problems such as poor sleep, anxiety and difficulty concentrating.

The move is part of wider efforts by the UK government to address health and safety concerns affecting children and teenagers.

Other planned measures include restrictions on social media access for under-16s and overnight limits on social media use for 16- and 17-year-olds, with the government saying these steps could improve young people’s health and sleep.