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UK supermarkets ban sales of energy drinks to children under 16

Tuesday, March 6th 2018 - 08:59 UTC
Full article 3 comments
Retailers will limit sale of energy drinks containing more than 150mg of caffeine per liter to under-16s. Retailers will limit sale of energy drinks containing more than 150mg of caffeine per liter to under-16s.
The Co-op, Aldi and Lidl implemented the change on 1 March, while Morrisons, Waitrose, Asda and Boots put the rule in place on 5 March. The Co-op, Aldi and Lidl implemented the change on 1 March, while Morrisons, Waitrose, Asda and Boots put the rule in place on 5 March.

Sales of energy drinks to children under 16 have been banned in most major UK supermarkets, amid concerns about high levels of sugar and caffeine. Boots is also joining supermarkets such as Asda, Waitrose, Tesco and the Co-op in introducing the rule.

Retailers will limit sale of energy drinks containing more than 150mg of caffeine per liter to under-16s. Co-op said it recognized the “growing concern about the consumption of energy drinks” among children.

Other supermarkets introducing the voluntary ban include Aldi, Lidl, Sainsbury's and Morrisons. Boots is the first retailer to partake that is not a supermarket. The Co-op, Aldi and Lidl implemented the change on 1 March, while Morrisons, Waitrose, Asda and Boots put the rule in place on 5 March.

A Boots spokesperson said: “Helping our customers to live healthier lives has always been our core purpose. ”We have listened to the growing public concern about young people consuming these high sugar and highly-caffeinated drinks.“

Although Tesco has announced its decision to follow, it will not implement the change until 26 March.

The move follows calls by campaigners for a complete ban on energy drinks, and after MP Maria Caulfield asked Prime Minister Theresa May to consider a UK/wide ban earlier this year.

Celebrity chef Jamie Oliver, who led the NotForChildren campaign, welcomed the news and took to Twitter to celebrate the supermarkets that had ”done the right thing“.
The NASUWT teaching union has also campaigned for restrictions on energy drinks sales to children, and called on schools to ban high-caffeinated beverages from their premises.

NASUWT's general secretary, Chris Keates, previously told the BBC: ”The very high levels of caffeine and sugar these drinks contain impact adversely on pupil behavior in schools and teachers are left to deal with the fallout.

“There is a chronic lack of awareness about the effects and long-term health impacts of these drinks which many pupils and parents think are just another soft drink.”

Top Comments

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  • Voice

    Does that really say Cocaine written in a white powdery typeface...WTF!!!

    Mar 06th, 2018 - 02:45 pm 0
  • DemonTree

    I wonder where they took that picture? We had that Cocaine energy drink in Ibiza, it was like a spicy version of Redbull and I wouldn't mind getting some again.

    This is one of those articles that makes me wonder why it's on the website though. Surely the ban won't affect the Falklands in any way?

    Mar 06th, 2018 - 03:24 pm 0
  • Clem

    The question is why is this piece appearing in Mercopenguin, a British government propaganda organ supposedly devoted to America, South America and the “South Atlantic”?

    Mar 10th, 2018 - 05:54 am 0
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