Energy Drinks: Children

(asked on 2nd March 2015) - View Source

Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask Her Majesty’s Government what is their assessment of the recommendation that energy drinks should be banned for children under 16.


Answered by
Earl Howe Portrait
Earl Howe
Deputy Leader of the House of Lords
This question was answered on 16th March 2015

The Government does not intend to ban the sale of energy drinks which may be high in sugar or caffeine to children under 16 years of age.

Under the Public Health Responsibility Deal many businesses have reduced sugar in soft drinks. We are awaiting the Scientific Advisory Committee on Nutrition’s final report on Carbohydrates and Health due to be published in late spring 2015 which will, together with advice from Public Health England on sugar reduction, inform the Government’s future thinking on sugar reduction.

Regarding caffeine, the Food Standards Agency’s advice is that children, or other people sensitive to caffeine, should only consume it in moderation. There are specific legislative requirements for these drinks to be labelled so that consumers are informed of their high caffeine content.

The European Food Safety Authority is evaluating the safety of caffeine and will consider whether recommended intake levels for the general population, or sub groups such as children should be established.

Reticulating Splines