30 August 2018 - BBC News - Government proposes energy drinks ban for children
The sale of energy drinks could be banned in England to anybody under 18, amid fears they are damaging children's health, the prime minister has said.
FAB RESEARCH COMMENT:
The UK government has opened a 12-week consultation on whether the sale of so-called 'energy drinks' to children should be officially banned - as is already the case in some other countries.This would not only be in keeping with the governments recently-announced plans for combating childhood obesity, but also reflects public health concerns over the high rates of both tooth decay and behaviour problems in UK children and adolescents.
A recent review found that for young people, consumption of 'energy drinks' - high in both sugar and caffeine - is associated with a range of adverse outcomes and risky behaviours, including higher rates of smoking, alcohol and other substance use.
They are also linked to physical health symptoms such as headaches, stomach aches, hyperactivity and insomnia, and can increase anxiety, agitation and impulsivity - especially when consumed with alcohol or other substances.
Given the alarmingly high rates of mental health problems in UK children and adolescents, and the fact that energy drinks have no nutritional value, all the evidence suggests that restricting their availability to children and young people would make sense.
See also:
- Ban on sale of energy drinks to children (BMJ editorial)
- Mixing energy drinks with alcohol could enhance the negative effects of binge drinking
- Flying high: kids in the UK are wild about energy drinks - but how harmful are they?
- Young people in the UK drink more energy drinks than any other countries in Europe
- Identifying ways to minimize the harm of energy drinks
- Energy drink consumption associated with mental health problems for teens
- Dangers of adolescent energy drink consumption for the heart: Cardiologists urge physicians, parents, educators to monitor adolescents' energy drink consumption more closely
- Energy drinks raise resting blood pressure
- Energy drinks 'should be banned' for under-16s
The government has launched a public consultation on its plans to make it illegal to sell the drinks to children.
Energy drinks contain high levels of sugar and caffeine and have been linked to obesity and other health issues.
The government is asking for views on what age the ban should apply to, but gave under 16 and under 18 as options.
Scotland, Northern Ireland and Wales have the power to implement their own bans.
'Worrying links'
UK youngsters are among the highest consumers of energy drinks in Europe, research has previously suggested.
The drinks contain high levels of sugar and caffeine, often more than those of standard soft drinks.
Excessive consumption has been linked to a range of health issues in children, from obesity, tooth decay, headaches and sleep problems to stomach aches and hyperactivity.
Surveys from teachers unions have also suggested that they contribute to poor behaviour in classrooms, although claims they can alter behaviour have been contested.
The ban would apply to drinks containing 150mg of caffeine or more per litre.
Many shops already have their own voluntary bans in place for under-16s, but it is still possible for children to buy the drinks from some retailers and vending machines.
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.
"Our children already consume 50% more of these drinks than our European counterparts, and teachers have made worrying links between energy drinks and poor behaviour in the classroom."
"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."
Energy drinks also contain lots of sugar as well as other ingredients including vitamins and minerals or herbal substances.
Pregnant and breast-feeding women are advised not to have more than 200mg of caffeine over the course of a day
Prof Russell Viner, president of the Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health, said: "There is no evidence that energy drinks have any nutritional value or place in the diet of children and young people.
"It's therefore worrying that so many young people are buying these drinks at low prices and consuming them on a regular basis."
It said it had introduced a voluntary code of practice in 2010, which included policies on the appropriate labelling and marketing of energy drinks toward young people.
The public consultation follows the June 2018 publication of the latest chapter of the government's Childhood Obesity Plan, which commits to halve childhood obesity by 2030. It will last for 12 weeks.
Food labelling laws already state that any soft drink with more than 150mg of caffeine per litre must carry a warning about its high caffeine content and are not recommended for children or pregnant or breastfeeding women.
Prime Minister Theresa May said: "Childhood obesity is one of the greatest health challenges this country faces, and that's why we are taking significant action to reduce the amounts of sugar consumed by young people and to help families make healthier choices.
"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."
What is in energy drinks?
Energy drinks contain high levels of caffeine, usually about 80mg in a 250ml can.
In comparison, a 330ml can of classic Coca-Cola contains 32mg and a can of Diet Coke 42mg.
Energy drinks also contain lots of sugar as well as other ingredients including vitamins and minerals or herbal substances.
Some smaller "energy shot" products can contain as much as 160mg of caffeine in a 60ml bottle.
| Drink | Amount of caffeine/sugar |
| Red Bull (250ml can) | 80mg/27g |
| Monster (500ml can) | 160mg/55g |
| Coca-Cola (330ml can) | 32mg/35g |
How much caffeine is too much?
High levels of caffeine can lead to anxiety, panic attacks and increased blood pressure
Pregnant and breast-feeding women are advised not to have more than 200mg of caffeine over the course of a day
European advice says that most other adults are safe to drink up to 400mg a day
Source: NHS Choices
What are the health harms of too much sugar?
Too much sugar in our diets is linked to a range of health problems including:
Obesity
Tooth decay
Type 2 diabetes
Duncan Selbie, chief executive of Public Health England, said: "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."
Prof Russell Viner, president of the Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health, said: "There is no evidence that energy drinks have any nutritional value or place in the diet of children and young people.
"It's therefore worrying that so many young people are buying these drinks at low prices and consuming them on a regular basis."
The British Soft Drinks Association has previously said that energy drinks had been "deemed safe" by regulators but that they were not marketed or promoted to under-16s.
It said it had introduced a voluntary code of practice in 2010, which included policies on the appropriate labelling and marketing of energy drinks toward young people.
The public consultation follows the June 2018 publication of the latest chapter of the government's Childhood Obesity Plan, which commits to halve childhood obesity by 2030. It will last for 12 weeks.
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