Children under 16 may soon be banned from buying energy drinks, it has been revealed.
The Health Secretary Matt Hancock told the Cabinet he plans to put an age limit on the sale of products like Red Bull, Monster and Carabao.
A consultation by the Department of Health last year highlighted how the caffeine and sugar-laden drinks put children at risk of everything from headaches and insomnia to obesity and even depression.
However, the Tory leadership contender Boris Johnson announced earlier this month he may reverse Theresa May’s flagship sugar levy on soft drinks, belittling such measures ‘sin stealth taxes’.
The Health Secretary Matt Hancock has told the Cabinet he plans to put an age limit on the sale of energy drinks like Red Bull and Monster. This is amid fears they are driving the obesity crisis. Mr Hancock is pictured arriving for a Cabinet meeting at 10 Downing Street yesterday
Mr Hancock’s letter to his fellow Cabinet ministers was leaked to The Sun.
He wrote: ‘Following a high level of interest in the consultation, we plan on announcing we will be ending the sale of energy drinks to children under the age of 16.
‘[I am] taking a precautionary approach to mitigate the potential negative effects associated with their excessive consumption by children.’
Studies have shown two thirds of young people, and a quarter of six-to-nine year olds, consume energy drinks.
But just one 250ml drink can contain 80mg of caffeine, which is equivalent to a strong cup of coffee or nearly three cans of cola.
Some energy drinks also have 65 per cent more sugar than other soft beverages.
Mr Hancock admitted in the letter his plans will likely be met with resistance from the Treasury, which may oppose the ban over the effect it will have on drink manufacturers and retailers.
The plan has even been given a ‘red rating’ by the Government watchdog the Regulatory Policy Committee due to the ‘limited evidence available to underpin the estimated business costs’.
Cabinet ministers are reportedly planning on pushing through various law changes before the new prime minister (PM) comes into power on July 23. Mr Johnson is a front runner.
If the ban goes ahead, shops that flout it could be hit with punishments similar to those for selling cigarettes, which carries a £2,500 ($3,066) fine.
A ‘Government source’ told The Sun: ‘It’s interesting to see Hancock trying to get a new sin ban under the wire before his boss Boris arrives.’
Mr Johnson has criticised Mr Hancock’s proposal for a milkshake tax to tackle childhood obesity, arguing youngsters should just be encouraged to do more exercise.
Before her resignation, Mrs May was due to include an energy drink age limit of 18 or 16 in her Prevention Green paper for public health. This was met with both support and backlash. She is pictured talking to students at Cox Green School on April 21 2017 in Maidenhead
Before her resignation, Mrs May was due to include an energy drink age limit of 18 or 16 in her Prevention Green paper for public health.
This would have applied to drinks with more than 150mg of caffeine per litre.
The Red Bull website claims it contains 80mg of caffeine in a 250ml can, which is equivalent to 320mg per litre.
Mrs May previously said: ‘Childhood obesity is one of the greatest health challenges this country faces.
‘That’s why we are taking significant action to reduce the amounts of sugar consumed by young people and to help families make healthier choices.
‘Our plans to tackle obesity are already world leading, but we recognise much more needs to be done and as part of our long-term plan for the NHS, we are putting a renewed focus on the prevention of ill-health.
‘With thousands of young people regularly consuming energy drinks, often because they are sold at cheaper prices than soft drinks, we will consult on banning the sale of energy drinks to children.’
Cans in multi-buy deals can be as a cheap as 25p (31c) each.
‘It is vital we do all we can to make sure children have the best start in life and I encourage everyone to put forward their views,’ Mrs May added.
Celebrity chef and anti-obesity campaigner Jamie Oliver welcomed Theresa May’s proposal of an 18 or 16 year age limit on the sale of energy drinks last year. Oliver claimed children are replacing breakfast with the ‘stimulants’, which is disrupting school lessons across the UK
Celebrity chef and anti-obesity campaigner Jamie Oliver backed Mrs May’s proposal.
He previously said: ‘We have a massive problem with kids and energy drinks.
‘Too many children are regularly using them to replace breakfast.
‘Teachers from across the country have told me how their lessons are disrupted in classrooms because of these drinks, packed with stimulants.
‘The energy drinks industry has never thought these products were suitable for children.
‘The sale to kids should be stopped as soon as possible.’
But not everyone was supportive of Mrs May’s plan.
The free market think-tank IEA even called it ‘unnecessary and draconian’.
Chris Snowdon, head of lifestyle economics at the think-tank, said: ‘If the issue is the sugar in these drinks, then why isn’t the Government proposing a ban on the sale of sugary drinks to people under the age of 18?
‘If the issue is caffeine then why isn’t the Government proposing a sale on coffee to people under the age of 18?
‘Banning 17 year olds from buying lemonade or coffee would strike most reasonable people as crazy, so what is so special about energy drinks?’
Mr Snowdon also attacked Mrs May’s record of banning or slapping hefty charges on products to force people to change their behaviour.
‘This is proving to be a government that bans first and asks questions later,’ he said.