High-caffeine energy drinks will be banned for under-16s in England to prevent harm to children’s health, the Government said this week.
The plan is to make it illegal to sell energy drinks containing more than 150mg of caffeine per litre to anyone under 16 across all retailers, which includes online, in shops, restaurants, cafes and vending machines.
Tea and coffee are unaffected, as are lower-caffeine soft beverages including Pepsi, Diet Coke, Coca-Cola, and Coca-Cola Zero. But energy drinks with a lot of caffeine, such Red Bull, Monster, Relentless, and Prime, all go over the limit.
Ministers claim that a ban might help prevent up to 40,000 youngsters from becoming obese and will also help prevent problems including worse academic performance, disturbed sleep, and increased anxiety and lack of focus.
Many of us depend on our preferred pick-me-up to get through the day, whether it's a cup of tea, a frothy latte, or an ice-cold Diet Coke. However, we frequently don't realise how much caffeine is in any of the beverages we're drinking, or how it affects our bodies.
How much caffeine do popular drinks have?
Drink |
Caffeine |
Black tea (250ml) |
Roughly 50mg |
Double espresso (60ml) |
80mg |
Instant coffee (250ml) |
100mg |
Cola can (355ml) |
40mg |
Redbull can (250ml) |
80mg |
Monster/Relentless can (500ml) |
160mg |
Prime energy drink can (330ml) |
140mg |
The data, which was sourced by the European Food Safety Authority and the BBC, shows that instant coffee and a can of Monster or a Relentless energy drink contain extremely high doses of caffeine.
As of right now, any beverage that contains more than 150mg of caffeine per litre—aside from tea or coffee—must include a warning sign under current labelling rules that reads, “High caffeine content. Not recommended for children or pregnant or breast-feeding women.”
According to European Food Information Council, tea is the primary source of caffeine in adults and the elderly in the UK, while in the EU, coffee is the main source.
What is a safe amount of caffeine per day?
According to the Mayo Clinic, most people are able to consume up to 400 mg of caffeine each day. That is roughly equal to the caffeine content of two “energy shot” beverages, ten cans of cola, or four cups of brewed coffee.
The healthcare centre’s website says if your daily caffeine intake exceeds four cups or you experience any of the following negative effects, you might wish to reduce your intake: headache, insomnia, exhibiting irritability or anxiety, peeing frequently or not being able to control urinating, fast heartbeat, muscle tremors are lurches in the muscles and stomach ache.
The website adds that you may get certain side effects from caffeine if you take supplements or medications.
Additionally, it could exacerbate the symptoms of some illnesses like anxiety, incontinence, or seizure disorders.
When a medical expert prescribes a new medication, make sure to discuss your caffeine use with them. Find out if your consumption might be an issue with that medication.
Caffeine is safe to consume with the majority of medications. However, if you take medication that contains ephedrine, you should avoid caffeine. Some people may be more susceptible to seizures, heart attacks, strokes, or high blood pressure as a result of the mixture.
How does caffeine impact children?
The Government claims that there is mounting evidence that these drinks have negative impacts on children, such as disturbed sleep, elevated anxiety, difficulty focussing, and worse academic results.
Health and Social Care Secretary Wes Streeting said: “How can we expect children to do well at school if they have the equivalent of four cans of cola in their system on a daily basis?
“Energy drinks might seem harmless, but the sleep, concentration and wellbeing of today’s kids are all being impacted, while high sugar versions damage their teeth and contribute to obesity.”
Additionally, research indicates that children from underprivileged backgrounds are more likely to use these products, which increases health disparities nationwide.
Sarah Muckle, Policy Lead for Children and Young People at the Association of Directors of Public Health and Director of Public Health for Essex, said in a statement: “Our children and young people deserve the opportunity to grow up in an environment which nurtures their potential, provides them with easy access to healthy food, drink and activities, and helps them thrive.
“Energy drinks, which are currently made incredibly attractive and affordable to children through targeted advertising and marketing campaigns funded by the industry, are associated with a wide range of physical and mental health issues and so we are very pleased to see the Government acting on its promise to protect children’s health in this way.”
