England bans energy drink sales to under-16s from April 2027
Key Points
- England will ban the sale of high-caffeine energy drinks to under-16s from April 2027
- The ban covers drinks with more than 150mg of caffeine per litre, excluding tea and coffee
- It applies in shops, vending machines and online, with fines of up to £2,500 for retailers
- Around 100,000 children in England drink these products daily, according to the government
- The consultation received 1,095 responses with strong support for an age restriction
The government confirmed on Thursday (16 July) that England will ban the sale of high-caffeine energy drinks to under-16s from April 2027, with retailers facing fines of up to £2,500 for breaking the rules.
The ban covers any drink other than tea or coffee containing more than 150mg of caffeine per litre, which captures popular brands such as Red Bull, Monster Energy, Relentless and Prime Energy.
Standard soft drinks such as Coca-Cola and Pepsi fall below the threshold and remain unaffected.
The restriction applies across every retail setting, including supermarkets, convenience stores, vending machines and online shops. Business-to-business sales sit outside the ban.
The Department of Health and Social Care estimates that around 100,000 children in England drink high-caffeine energy drinks every day. The department says the evidence links these drinks to anxiety, disrupted sleep, poor concentration and weaker performance at school, with children in more deprived areas more likely to consume them.
What changes for shoppers and shops
Retailers carry the responsibility for checking ages and refusing sales to under-16s, in the same way they already handle alcohol and tobacco. Local authorities will enforce the rules, and businesses that break the law face fines of up to £2,500.
Many major retailers already operate voluntary restrictions. Asda, Aldi, the Co-op, Lidl, Morrisons, Tesco, Sainsbury’s, Waitrose and Boots have all stopped selling high-caffeine energy drinks to under-16s, but the voluntary approach left smaller shops, vending machines and online sellers free to serve children.
The new law creates one consistent standard across England.
The government will introduce the ban through secondary legislation using powers in the Food Safety Act 1990, with the measure subject to Parliamentary approval before it takes effect in April 2027.
Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland are considering similar restrictions but the ban initially applies in England only.
Strong public support
The decision follows a consultation that ran from 3 September to 26 November 2025 and drew 1,095 responses from businesses, public health bodies, enforcement agencies and the public, with strong support for an age restriction.
Public Health Minister Sharon Hodgson said high-caffeine energy drinks “have no place in children’s hands” and that the ban demonstrates the government’s commitment to “creating the healthiest generation of children ever”.
Katharine Jenner, Executive Director of the Obesity Health Alliance, called it “a hugely popular policy” and urged the government to ensure the ban starts promptly in April 2027 after years of delay.
The ban forms part of a wider package of children’s health measures that includes extending the Soft Drinks Industry Levy, supervised toothbrushing for 3 to 5-year-olds, and restrictions on the placement, promotion and advertising of less healthy food.
