Energy Drinks Europe press release: A under 16 sales ban on energy drinks is arbitrary, discriminatory, and not supported by evidence

“An under 16 sales ban on energy drinks is arbitrary, discriminatory, and not supported by evidence.”

“Independent scientific bodies and food risk assessment agencies have all found energy drinks to be a minor source of caffeine in the UK diet and that their consumption is safe.”

“In 2023, the Scottish Government ruled out the introduction of mandatory sales restrictions to under 16s due to a lack of evidence, following similar conclusions from the House of Common’s Science and Technology Committee in 2018.”

“A 250 ml can of energy drink typically contains 80 milligrams of caffeine, about the same as a cup of coffee or tea, and the same amount of sugar as in apple juice, orange juice or a conventional soft drink. For all ages, there are much greater contributors of caffeine and sugar in the UK diet than energy drinks.”

“Instead of moral panic and uninformed conjecture, the UK Government should take its regulatory obligations seriously. That would mean basing any proposals on the readily available objective facts which underpin the conclusions of food authorities across the world.”

Andreas Kadi, Secretary General of Energy Drinks Europe