Say goodbye to energy drinks for kids: UK confirms energy drink ban for under 16s

The ban applies to any beverage containing more than 150mg of caffeine per litre, a threshold that captures popular brands including Red Bull, Monster, Relentless and Prime. Tea, coffee, and lower-caffeine soft drinks such as Coca-Cola, Coca-Cola Zero, Diet Coke, and Pepsi are exempt from the restriction.

The rule will apply across shops, vending machines and online retailers, meaning digital sellers will also be required to verify a buyer's age before completing a purchase.

Officials estimate that around 100,000 children in England drink high-caffeine energy drinks every day, with evidence linking the habit to anxiety, poor sleep, reduced concentration and harm to learning.

Public Health Minister Sharon Hodgson said high-caffeine energy drinks have no place in children's hands, adding that thousands of kids consuming them daily was affecting their wellbeing and education.

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The restriction will be introduced through secondary legislation under the Food Safety Act 1990, subject to parliamentary approval. Retailers found selling restricted drinks to under-16s will face fines of up to £2,500, with responsibility for age verification resting on the seller rather than the buyer.

The announcement follows years of campaigning by teachers' unions, health charities and food campaigners, some of whom noted that nearly 300 million high-caffeine energy drinks have been sold to children since the government first pledged action two years ago.