Young people welcome long-awaited ban on high-caffeine energy drinks for under-16s
18 Jul 2026
Bite Back has welcomed the Government's confirmation that the sale of high-caffeine energy drinks to under-16s in England will be banned from April 2027, marking a major step towards protecting children's health and wellbeing.
The announcement
Following years of campaigning by young people, health organisations and campaigners calling for stronger action to tackle the growing availability and marketing of high-caffeine energy drinks to children.
Young people from Bite Back have played a key role in that campaign, meeting ministers and policymakers to share their experiences and explain how energy drinks have become an everyday part of life for many children and teenagers.
They have consistently called for stronger protections to help create healthier environments where young people can thrive.
Our Young people said
Carrera, Bite Back youth activist, said:
"This is really positive news, and I'm so pleased to see the Government taking this step. While we've been waiting for this announcement, around five high-caffeine energy drinks have been sold to children every second. That's why this matters so much.
Young people have been speaking up about energy drinks for a long time because we've seen how normal they've become in our schools, on our journeys to school and through the influencers and sports we love. They've become the social currency of the playground, and that simply shouldn't be the case.
At a time when so many young people have just been sitting exams, the last thing we need is products that can affect our sleep, concentration and wellbeing becoming part of everyday life.
It's encouraging to know that young people's voices have helped get us here, and I hope this is another important step towards creating healthier places where every young person can thrive."
The legislation will ban the sale of drinks containing more than 150mg of caffeine per litre to anyone under the age of 16.
It will apply across all retail settings, including supermarkets, convenience stores, vending machines and online retailers.
Businesses that fail to comply could face fines of up to £2,500, with local authorities responsible for enforcement.
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.
This ban will reduce children's opportunity to buy drinks that are harmful to their health and wellbeing, and demonstrates our firm commitment to creating the healthiest generation of children ever."
The legislation follows a Government consultation that received almost 1,100 responses from businesses, public health organisations, enforcement bodies and members of the public, with strong support for introducing age restrictions.