Should energy drinks be sold to children?

There have been discussions among Cumbria County council officers and members on whether we should take action to discourage the sale of energy drinks to children.

The PM has now announced that she will hold a consultation on the issue with a view to the possibility of banning such sales.

Key facts: This consultation is part of the second chapter of the Childhood Obesity Plan:

  • One 250ml can of energy drink can contain around 80mg of caffeine – the equivalent of nearly three cans of cola. On average, energy drinks have 65 per cent more sugar than other, regular soft drinks.
  • With more than two thirds of 10-17-year-olds and a quarter of 6-9-year-olds consuming energy drinks, they are likely to be contributing to both obesity and tooth decay in children. Surveys from teachers unions have also suggested that they contribute to poor behaviour in classrooms.
  • While many retailers already have a voluntary ban in place, this consultation proposes a ban that would end the sale of energy drinks to children by all retailers, applying to drinks that contain more than 150mg of caffeine per litre.



Why this matters: The British government's plans to tackle obesity are already world leading, but Conservatives recognise much more needs to be done and as part of our long-term plan to guarantee the future of the NHS, and we are putting a renewed focus on the prevention of ill-health.

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