Have Your Say On Energy Drinks
We secured a huge win for children’s health recently: the Government announced a plan to end the sale of energy drinks to under-16s. As part of this, it has launched a consultation inviting feedback on how the ban should be implemented, from all groups closely connected to the issue — including teachers!
Here's how you can get involved: fill out our short form below, adding any experiences where you've seen energy drinks impact the lives of children. This should only take 10 minutes.
We'll add your responses to our template — making our collective voice as loud as possible. If you'd like to see what we're saying in the consultation, alongside your response, expand the block below.
Remember: your personal perspective is what will make the submission shine, and encourage the Government to keep this policy strong!
Please keep each answer to approximately 50 words, and feel free to leave any questions blank if they don’t feel relevant or you’d prefer not to answer them.
If you have any questions or would like any additional support using this tool, please email christopher.booth@biteback2030.com
How we’re answering the consultation
Do you agree or disagree with the proposal to ban the sale of high-caffeine energy drinks based on age?
Agree. I am strongly supportive of the Government's commitment to banning the sale of energy drinks to children. As a teacher I’ve seen first-hand the harmful impact that high-caffine energy drinks, particularly those packed with sugar, have on young people’s lives.
Even though these drinks are not recommended for children, they remain easily accessible, surrounding them at every turn. From the shelves of the local corner shop, to conversations in school corridors, and ads on social media, energy drinks are constantly in the spotlight.
This influence is no accident. High-caffeine, high-sugar drinks with no nutritional value are aggressively marketed towards children. Banning their sale will not only reduce accessibility, but will also pave the way for retailers to promote healthier, more nutritious alternatives.
At a time where over a third of 10/11-year-olds leave primary school at risk of future food-related illness, restricting the sale of energy drinks is a significant step towards promoting child health.
Do you agree or disagree that the minimum age of sale for high-caffeine energy drinks should be 16 years?
Disagree. The minimum age of sale should be set at 18 years old to best protect all children, allowing them equal opportunity to thrive, particularly during an important stage of their physical, mental and educational development.
Research shows that energy drinks are most popular among 16 to 18 year olds. Crucially, this age group includes many children undertaking their GCSEs, a time at which many young people report feeling pressured to consume high-caffeine products.
An age limit of 18 years would also reduce the risk of older students selling energy drinks to younger pupils in secondary schools. The trade and sale of sweets and drinks on school grounds is already difficult to manage. Introducing an age gap, where energy drinks are only accessible to certain students, is only likely to create a ‘black market’ for these products. An age limit which applies equally to all students will help create a healthier school environment - one which is free from unnecessary inequalities and pressures among pupils.
Finally, an age limit of 18 would be consistent with other age-restricted products such as tobacco, vapes, alcohol, and scratch cards. This would create a clear and consistent message for young people, parents and teachers across products we know are detrimental for children’s health and wellbeing.
Do you agree or disagree that the ban should apply to all sellers, retailers and businesses, both in store and online, who operate in England?
Agree. I strongly agree that the ban should apply to all sellers, retailers, and businesses, both in store and online, who operate in England.
While large supermarkets have effectively introduced voluntary restrictions, energy drinks remain highly accessible for young people.
Often in areas with higher levels of deprivation, the high street is flooded with convenience stores and takeaways that offer unhealthy options, including energy drinks. A ban applied consistently across all sellers prevents creating a postcode lottery, where children’s access to healthier options is dependent largely on where they live or go to school.