England will ban the sale of high-caffeine energy drinks to under-16s from April 2027, the UK Government has confirmed. The ban will apply in shops, vending machines and online, and will cover products such as Monster, Red Bull and Prime.
What the new law means
Under the new law, it will be illegal to sell drinks containing more than 150mg of caffeine per litre to anyone under 16, excluding tea and coffee. The legislation covers all retail settings, including shops, vending machines and websites, but business-to-business sales will be excluded.
Most major supermarkets, including Tesco, Sainsbury's, Waitrose, Morrisons and Asda, have already voluntarily stopped selling the drinks to under-16s. However, research from the Department of Health suggests some smaller convenience stores are still selling them to children.
Health impact and enforcement
The Department of Health and Social Care, together with the Department for Education, said the ban will better protect children's health from harms linked to high-caffeine energy drinks, helping to prevent obesity in up to 40,000 children, as well as tackling problems like disrupted sleep, increased anxiety and lack of concentration.
It is estimated that around 100,000 children in England drink high-caffeine energy drinks every day, with children in more deprived areas and households more likely to consume them. Evidence suggests these drinks can negatively impact physical and mental health, as well as impair learning.
Retailers will be responsible for ensuring the drinks are not sold to under-16s, while local authorities will enforce the ban. Businesses that break the law will face fines of up to £2,500, subject to Parliamentary approval.
Reaction to the ban
Drinks containing more than 150mg of caffeine per litre must already carry warning labels stating they are not recommended for children. The ban follows a consultation that received nearly 1,100 responses from businesses, public health organisations, enforcement bodies and members of the public, with strong support for an age restriction.
Public Health Minister Sharon Hodgson said: "High-caffeine energy drinks have no place in children’s hands. We know thousands of kids in England consume them daily but the evidence is clear that this can cause anxiety, affect their sleep and concentration and can have a detrimental impact on their education."
Katharine Jenner, executive director of the Obesity Health Alliance, said: "This is a hugely popular policy, backed by parents, health professionals and the public, and a vital step towards protecting children’s health. Strong evidence links high-caffeine energy drinks to anxiety, poor sleep, reduced concentration and harm to learning and wellbeing. Restricting sales to children at a vital time in their life is just common sense."
The 12-week consultation on banning the sale of high-caffeine energy drinks to children ran from September 3 to November 26, 2025, and received 1,095 responses.
