Food policy expert comments on Labour’s energy drink ban for under-16s

The Labour Party have announced that they would ban under-16s from buying high-caffeine energy drinks in England if elected in July.

Under Labour’s plan, energy drinks containing over 150mg of caffeine per litre will be banned. Shops will be required to check people’s ID if they believe they could be under age in the same way as they do with sales of alcohol and tobacco. Retailers could face fines of up to £2,500 under the proposed plans.

Responding to the announcement, Professor Christina Vogel, Director of the Centre for Food Policy at City, University of London and an expert in the area, said:

Labour’s proposed ban on energy drinks for under-16s is an important step that could benefit many children and young people. 

In a previous study, my colleagues and I found that young people living in poorer areas are drinking more energy drinks while numbers fall in wealthier communities. Data from our research also revealed voluntary bans do not work, so it is very good to see a political party proposing legislation, alongside the advertising and promotions bans which are slated to come in next year, that will help to improve the diets of British children and young people. 

In fact, I would urge labour to go further and issue a ban that includes all people under 18 years of age. By aligning the limits on the sale of energy drinks with the established legislation for smoking and drinking, it would provide a clear message to the public that these drinks are not suitable for adolescents and make law enforcement easier and more effective.