Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what assessment he has made of the physiological and social effects of consumption of high sugar energy drinks on children who are in full-time education.

The Food Standards Agency (FSA) has policy responsibility for the safety of high caffeine drinks. The FSA advises that children and other people who are sensitive to caffeine should consume caffeine only in moderation. Recent changes to labelling require that high caffeine drinks must now state that they are not recommended for children.

Whilst caffeine has short-term effects on the heart rate and blood pressure, there are no long-term effects. Additionally there is no evidence of a direct, long-term link between caffeine consumption and altered behaviour.

The European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) is currently evaluating the safety of caffeine and is considering whether recommended intake levels for the general population, or sub groups such as children should be established. The FSA will consider the final EFSA opinion once it is published early next year.