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Scientists comment on a Government (Department of Health and Social Care) proposal to ban energy drink sales for under 16s.
Prof Christina Vogel, Adjunct Professor of Food Policy, University of Southampton University of London Professor of Food Policy and Director, Centre for Food Policy, City St George’s University of London, said:
“Banning the sale of energy drinks to all under-16s is a positive step to supporting our children’s health. Our research on energy drink consumption among children and young people in the UK showed those from poorer families and aged 16-18 years are most likely to drink energy drinks. We also found that children who drink energy drinks have less healthy diets, consume more calories and are more likely to have greater body mass. This new ban on energy drink sales is welcome because it is most likely to improve the educational and health outcomes of children and young people from disadvantaged backgrounds. If the government were to go further with a full ban for under-18s it would be maximise benefits and be easier to enforce by aligning limits on the sale of energy drinks with the established legislation for smoking and alcohol sales. Young people also told us they wanted to see greater restrictions the marketing of energy drinks and for them to be priced to be less affordable to offer maximum protection for their health.”
Dr Nina Rogers, Research Fellow, Department of Public Health, Environments and Society, London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine (LSHTM), said:
“Energy drinks offer little nutritional value and pose clear and unnecessary risks to children and they are often marketed in such a way that make them easy and appealing to consume quickly. High caffeine levels are linked to sleep disruption, anxiety, and reduced concentration, affecting both wellbeing and learning. Many energy drinks also contain large amounts of added sugar. From our research on the UK Soft Drinks Industry Levy, we know that reducing children’s sugar intake from drinks can improve both dental health and obesity in some groups of children. Energy drinks are part of that wider picture. Even when marketed as sugar-free, the high caffeine content makes energy drinks unsuitable for children. This ban is an important step in protecting children’s health and should form part of a broader strategy to improve diet and prevent future health problems.”
Professor Amelia Lake, Deputy Director of Fuse, the Centre for Translational Research in Public Health, and Professor of Public Health Nutrition at Teesside University, said:
“Our research has shown the significant mental and physical health consequences of children drinking energy drinks. We have reviewed evidence from around the world and have shown that these drinks have no place in the diets of children.
“We know these drinks are part of youth culture and associated with sports, gaming, music and more, but there is a lack of clear signalling about their health consequences.
“Other countries have age-restricted sales of energy drinks – Norway recently announced their restrictions starting in 2026.
“I welcome the consultation, and encourage everyone, especially parents, school workers, health professionals and importantly young people to respond and have their voices heard. It will be a step forward in prioritising the health and wellbeing of our young population.”
Prof Tom Sanders, Professor emeritus of Nutrition and Dietetics, King’s College London, said:
“The need to restrict the sales of “high ” caffeine drinks to young people is well recognised. However, most of these drinks are not high in calories. There seems to be some confusion regarding the term “high energy” drinks with drinks that are high in food energy (calories). Consequently, the claim that this ban will reduce obesity in 40,000 children seems scientifically unfounded. Caffeine certainly does not promote weight gain, and the published scientific evidence is in the opposite direction”.
Declared interests
Prof Christina Vogel: “CV has had a non-financial research collaboration with a national UK supermarket chain and had flights and accommodation funded to present at the Federation of European Nutrition Societies 2023 conference. She has no other CoI to declare.”
Prof Tom Sanders: “I have received grant funding for research on vegans in the past. I have been retired for 10 years but during my career at King’s College London, I formerly acted as consultant for companies that made artificial sweeteners and sugar substitutes.
“I am a member of the Programme Advisory Committee of the Malaysia Palm Oil Board which involves the review of research projects proposed by the Malaysia government.
“I also used to be a member of the Scientific Advisory Committee of the Global Dairy Platform up until 2015.
“I did do some consultancy work on GRAS affirmation of high oleic palm oil for Archer Daniel Midland more than ten years ago.
“My research group received oils and fats free of charge from Unilever and Archer Daniel Midland for our Food Standards Agency Research.
“I was a member of the FAO/WHO Joint Expert Committee that recommended that trans fatty acids be removed from the human food chain.
“Member of the Science Committee British Nutrition Foundation. Honorary Nutritional Director HEART UK.
“Before my retirement from King’s College London in 2014, I acted as a consultant to many companies and organisations involved in the manufacture of what are now designated ultraprocessed foods.
“I used to be a consultant to the Breakfast Cereals Advisory Board of the Food and Drink Federation.
“I used to be a consultant for aspartame more than a decade ago.
“When I was doing research at King’ College London, the following applied: Tom does not hold any grants or have any consultancies with companies involved in the production or marketing of sugar-sweetened drinks. In reference to previous funding to Tom’s institution: £4.5 million was donated to King’s College London by Tate & Lyle in 2006; this funding finished in 2011. This money was given to the College and was in recognition of the discovery of the artificial sweetener sucralose by Prof Hough at the Queen Elizabeth College (QEC), which merged with King’s College London. The Tate & Lyle grant paid for the Clinical Research Centre at St Thomas’ that is run by the Guy’s & St Thomas’ Trust, it was not used to fund research on sugar. Tate & Lyle sold their sugar interests to American Sugar so the brand Tate & Lyle still exists but it is no longer linked to the company Tate & Lyle PLC, which gave the money to King’s College London in 2006.”
Prof Amelia Lake: “Amelia is Deputy Director of Fuse the Centre for Translational Research in Public Health and is Professor of Public Health Nutrition at Teesside University.
Amelia sits on the scientific committee of the British Nutrition Foundation and is an executive for Nutrition North (Northern Health Science Alliance).
She has no industry CoIs.”
Dr Nina Rogers: I don’t have any COIs to declare.