UK Bans Energy Drinks for Under-16s Following SNS Restrictions

"Measures for the Health, Sleep, and Well-being of Children and Adolescents"

The UK government has decided to ban the sale of high-caffeine energy drinks to children and adolescents under the age of 16, starting in April next year.

Energy drinks displayed at a large supermarket. YouTube screen capture

According to the BBC and other sources on July 16 (local time), this regulation will go into effect after parliamentary approval, and will apply to retailers, restaurants and cafes, vending machines, and online sales in England. The ban targets energy drinks containing more than 150 mg of caffeine per liter. Businesses that violate the new rules will be subject to a fine of up to 2,500 pounds (approximately 5 million KRW). Similar regulations are being considered in Northern Ireland, Scotland, and Wales.

Products subject to the regulation must display a mandatory high-caffeine warning label stating that they are not recommended for children, pregnant women, or breastfeeding individuals. Conversely, regular beverages such as coffee and tea, despite their high caffeine content, are excluded from the ban. Carbonated beverages with relatively low caffeine content, such as diet cola, will also not be regulated under the new policy.

Major energy drinks, including Red Bull and Monster, are expected to fall under the new regulation. The BBC reported that some products contain more caffeine than two cups of coffee or four glasses of cola, and noted that about 100,000 children in the UK consume energy drinks daily.

Experts have explained that children and adolescents may react more sensitively to caffeine due to their smaller body size and developing brains. The new restriction is based on the results of more than 1,100 survey responses supporting the introduction of an age limit for energy drink consumption.

The UK government expects that this measure will help reduce obesity, sleep disorders, anxiety, and declines in concentration and academic performance among children and adolescents. Sharon Hodgson, Minister for Public Health and Prevention, stated that this action is "a measure to raise the healthiest generation of children in history."

Previously, the Keir Starmer government announced plans to ban social networking service (SNS) use for those under 16 and to implement nighttime usage limits as a default setting for 16- and 17-year-olds.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.