The British government has proposed a ban on the sale of high-caffeine energy drinks to anyone under 16 in England, with fines of up to £2,500 for retailers who breach the rules. The restriction, which requires parliamentary approval, would take effect from April 2027 and apply to non-tea and non-coffee beverages containing more than 150 milligrams of caffeine per litre. It covers sales in shops, restaurants, vending machines and online platforms. Local authorities would enforce the measure under the Food Safety Act 1990.

According to Public Health Minister Sharon Hodgson, the move is driven by evidence that such drinks can cause anxiety, disrupt sleep and impair concentration in young people. Government figures indicate that around 100,000 children in England consume these products daily, with higher prevalence in disadvantaged areas. The proposal forms part of a wider child-protection agenda that also includes plans to restrict social media access for under-16s and impose overnight curfews on platforms for older teenagers.

The British Soft Drinks Association described the ban as unnecessary, pointing to a voluntary commitment since 2010 not to market energy drinks to under-16s and to existing warning labels on high-caffeine products. Health campaigners, including the Obesity Health Alliance, welcomed the restriction as a common-sense step to shield children from products linked to obesity and dental problems. Viewed from continental Europe, the English measure aligns with a growing regulatory trend: six EU member states—Lithuania, Latvia, Poland, Romania, Hungary and Bulgaria—already prohibit energy drink sales to minors, and Russia introduced a federal ban in March 2025. In Italy, where consumption reached 75 million litres in a recent twelve-month period, agricultural association Coldiretti has urged graduating students to avoid excessive intake, and calls for legislative intervention are mounting.

The proposal now moves to Parliament for debate and a vote. Should it pass, England would join a list of jurisdictions using age-based sales restrictions to address concerns over caffeine’s effects on developing bodies. The devolved administrations in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland are also examining similar measures, signalling that the dossier on youth access to stimulant drinks remains active across the United Kingdom.