Britain mulls ban on sale of energy drinks to kids
A quarter of children in England are obese or overweight by the age of five, rising to one third by the time they leave primary school aged 11
Britain’s government launched a public consultation on Thursday over plans to ban the sale of energy drinks to young people, as it grapples with some of western Europe’s worst child obesity rates.
Prime Minister Theresa May wants to prevent shops from selling popular energy drinks, such as Red Bull, Monster and Relentless, to children because of their high levels of sugar and caffeine.
The government estimates more than two-thirds of 10 to 17-year-olds and a quarter of six to nine-year-olds consume the drinks, which are linked to a host of health and behaviour problems, from headaches to hyperactivity.
“Childhood obesity is one of the greatest health challenges this country faces,” May said in a statement. “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.”
The plans were first announced in June, along with a commitment to halve childhood obesity rates by 2030.
