Major UK supermarket chains have banned the sale of high-caffeine energy drinks to anyone under the age of 16.
The ban, prevents underage customers both in store and online from buying over 84 products.
The ban applies to energy drinks containing more than 150mgs of caffeine per litre.
UK group Action On Sugar has welcomed the move, after campaigning for a nationwide ban on energy drinks for children.
Kawther Hashem, nutritionist at Action on Sugar, said: “It’s a scandal that certain energy drinks are being sold to children and teenagers under-16 cheaper than water and pop. The level of sugar in a typical energy drink is excessively high and increases the risk of obesity, type 2 diabetes and tooth decay. There must be tighter restrictions on who can buy these drinks to protect children and teenagers.”
None of the major supermarkets in New Zealand have plans to introduce a similar ban.
A spokesperson for Foodstuffs, the parent company of New World and Pak ‘n Save, said the company is “guided by the relevant food authorities in terms of the sale of energy drinks”.
Currently the Food Standards Australia and New Zealand (FSANZ) have guidelines around how much caffeine is permitted in a beverage and require advisory labels that tell consumers the amount that can be safely consumed.
7 Responses
Wow, boo
We need that in NZ
My brother lives in London
hi this is awesome and i agree with the paragraugh
yeah i agree
I agree
no way kids should because some energy drinks can help kids so i disagre