Government ban of energy drink sales to under-16s underpinned by Fuse research

A Fuse academic whose research has been vital in highlighting the dangerous impact that energy drinks have on children, is urging people to have their say in a government consultation on banning sales to under-16s.

The government has today announced a 12-week public consultation on proposals to stop retailers selling high-caffeine energy drinks to children under the age of 16.

The Government Consultation is Now Open - Have Your Say

Closing on 26 November 2025

The move follows almost a decade of research from academics at Fuse, the Centre for Translational Research in Public Health, whose work links the drinks - which often contain more caffeine than a cup of strong coffee and are widely available - to negative impacts on children’s physical and mental health, sleep quality, and educational outcomes.

The announcement is underpinned by the work of Professor Amelia Lake (pictured), Deputy Director of Fuse, who recently led a comprehensive review looking at data from 57 studies of over 1.2 million children and young people from more than 21 countries. This and previous research suggest that:

• Around 100,000 children drink at least one high caffeine energy drink every day and there is growing concern among parents and teachers about the impact on children’s health and education.
• Up to one third of children aged 13 to 16 years, and nearly a quarter of children aged 11 to 12 years consume one or more of these drinks each week.
• There is growing evidence linking these drinks to harmful effects on children, including increased frequency of headaches, irritation, tiredness and stomach aches; reduced sleep duration and quality; and increased risk of emotional difficulties, such as stress, anxiety and depression.
• Children from more deprived communities are more likely to consume these products, meaning a ban would support reducing health inequalities.

This is backed by parents, teachers and teaching unions who report on pupils being unable to concentrate and focus and even negatively affecting grades and academic performance.

In a survey by the Department for Education in December 2024, 82% of parents reported feeling concerned about the potential negative effects of high-caffeine energy drink consumption on children. Of teachers surveyed, 61% agreed or strongly agreed that the consumption of high-caffeine energy drinks negatively impacts the health and wellbeing of pupils at their school.

The 12-week consultation is open now, and Professor Lake is urging as many people as possible to share their views - including young people, parents, carers, teachers, school support staff, and public health professionals.

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.”

The proposal would make it illegal to sell high-caffeine energy drinks containing more than 150mg of caffeine per litre to anyone aged under 16 years across all retailers, including online, in shops, restaurants, cafes and vending machines. The proposals would not affect lower-caffeine soft drinks or tea and coffee.

Many major retailers already voluntarily restrict sales, but Fuse research suggests some smaller convenience stores continue selling to children, highlighting the need for a consistent approach that protects children and is fairer for industry.

Health and Social Care Secretary Wes Streeting, said:

“How can we expect children to do well at school if they have the equivalent of four cans of cola in their system on a daily basis?

“Energy drinks might seem harmless, but the sleep, concentration and wellbeing of today’s kids are all being impacted, while high sugar versions damage their teeth and contribute to obesity.

“As part of our Plan for Change and shift from treatment to prevention, we’re acting on the concerns of parents and teachers and tackling the root causes of poor health and educational attainment head on.

“By preventing shops from selling these drinks to kids, we’re helping build the foundations for healthier and happier generations to come.”

Building on earlier research

The research acknowledged in the government announcement is an update to a review in 2016 by researchers from Fuse, the Centre for Translational Research in Public Health, at Teesside University and Newcastle University. It found that energy drink consumption was more common among boys than girls, and was also associated with increased risky behaviours such as substance use, violence, and unsafe sex. The research also links consumption of the drinks with an increased risk of poor academic performance, sleep problems, and unhealthy dietary habits.

In 2017, the same researchers from Fuse were the first to publish research exploring in-depth the views of children, as young as 10-years-old, on energy drinks. The academics called on the UK government to take action on the sale of energy drinks to under 16s after finding that they were being sold to young people cheaper than bottled water.

The research revealed that energy drinks were easily available in local shops; sold for as little as 25p (‘four for £1’ promotions); targeted at children through online adverts, computer games, television and sports sponsorship; and linked to extreme sports, gaming, sexuality, gender, and use of sexualised imagery.

Previous research had also found that up to a third of children in the UK consume caffeinated energy drinks on a weekly basis and that young people in the UK were the biggest consumers of energy drinks in Europe for their age group.

National campaign

Professor Amelia Lake was involved in a national campaign, fronted by celebrity chef Jamie Oliver, to restrict the sale of energy drinks to teenagers, and gave evidence to the House of Commons Science and Technology Committee on the effects of energy drinks on young people’s mental and physical health. Many large UK supermarkets subsequently agreed to voluntarily ban the sale of energy drinks to children. 

Regulation in other countries

A number of countries have attempted to regulate energy drinks, including bans on sales to under 18s in Poland, Lithuania and Latvia. Norway has recently announced a sales restriction to come in force in 2026. The UK government ran a consultation on ending the sale of energy drinks to children in England and also proposed this in their 2019 green paper ‘Advancing our health: prevention in the 2020s’. While 93% of respondents to the consultation supported restricting sales to under 16s, there has been no further action. In 2022, the devolved government in Wales launched its own consultation to ban the sales of energy drinks to under 16s.

What are energy drinks?

The UK Food Standards Agency says that energy drinks are generally drinks with high levels of caffeine. They are usually marketed as giving a mental and physical 'boost' by providing more ‘energy’ than regular soft drinks. They are different to ‘sports drinks’ which might be used to replace electrolytes lost during exercise. Caffeine levels in a can of energy drink can vary between 80mg (equivalent to two cans of cola or a mug of instant coffee) and 200mg (equivalent to five cans of cola).

About Fuse

Fuse, the Centre for Translational Research in Public Health, brings together six Universities in North East England and North Cumbria (Durham, Newcastle, Northumbria, Teesside, Cumbria, and Sunderland) in a unique collaboration to deliver world-class research to improve health and wellbeing and tackle inequalities.

Fuse is a founding member of the National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR) School for Public Health Research (SPHR).

Find out more

Fuse’s energy drink research activity and impact has been captured in this timeline:

• Timeline: How the Fuse energy drinks research story developed

This research has been summarised in the following:

• Podcast: Should we be concerned about energy drinks and young people’s health?
• Policy brief: Evidence shows wider range of risks associated with energy drinks in children
• Blog post: Energy drinks may be commercially lucrative but what is more valuable than the health of our children?

Last modified: Wed, 03 Sep 2025 10:44:08 BST