The UK government said it would ban the sale of energy drinks to children under the age of 16, according to a government green paper. The decision comes after a 2018 consultation on the issue showed that 93 percent of respondents agreed with a ban on energy drink sales to children. The ban is motivated by evidence that overconsumption of the drinks could have adverse effects on some children and that the consumption of the drinks was associated with unhealthy behaviours. The exact timeframe of the ban was not confirmed.
Most retailers already have a voluntary age restriction policy in place for energy drinks but have called on the government to provide clear guidelines on the issue. As such the planned ban was welcomed by industry groups, such as the British Soft Drinks Association and the Association of Convenience Stores.