Children under 16 in England will be stopped from buying high-caffeine energy drinks under new government rules due to take effect next year. The move is aimed at limiting young people's access to products such as popular energy drink brands that contain elevated caffeine levels.
The restriction will cover drinks with more than 150mg of caffeine per litre. Tea and coffee will not be part of the ban, making the policy specific to energy drinks and similar products sold in shops.
Retailers that sell these drinks to under-16s could face fines of up to £2,500. The planned penalty is intended to give the measure real force and push businesses to check ages before selling affected products.
The policy marks a significant step in England's approach to children's health and caffeine consumption. By focusing on high-caffeine drinks rather than all caffeinated products, the government is targeting a category that has drawn concern over its popularity among school-age consumers.
