England bans energy drinks for under-16s
EL.KZ Информационно-познавательный портал
The government is planning a new law in England to stop anyone under the age of 16 buying energy drinks
Up to a third of UK children are thought to consume these types of drinks every week, despite most supermarkets having already introduced a voluntary ban.
Some popular drinks contain more caffeine than two cups of coffee. Excessive consumption is linked to headaches and sleep problems.
Too much caffeine can cause a rapid heart rate, abnormal heart rhythms and seizures.
Although rare, there have been some deaths linked to excess caffeine.
The sugary versions of the drinks can also cause damage to teeth and contribute to obesity, according to The Association of UK Dieticians.
A consultation will now run for 12 weeks to gather evidence from health and education experts as well as the public and retailers and manufacturers who already ban the drinks.
Under current labelling rules, any drink, other than tea or coffee, with over 150mg of caffeine per litre requires a warning label saying: "High caffeine content. Not recommended for children or pregnant or breast-feeding women."
Young people have smaller bodies and their brains are still developing, which can make them more sensitive to caffeine, say experts.
For most adults, up to 400mg of caffeine a day, or about four cups of instant coffee or five cups of tea, is safe.
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