Energy drinks will be banned for schoolchildren under 16 in England from April 2027 under a new law confirmed by the Labour government this week. The legislation applies to drinks containing more than 150mg of caffeine per litre, excluding tea and coffee, and covers sales in all retail settings including shops, vending machines, and websites. Business-to-business sales are exempt.
Public health minister backs ban
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.”
Education minister highlights classroom impact
Education Minister Olivia Bailey added: “This ban will protect children from high-caffeine energy drinks that undermine their health and focus in the classroom, so they can make the most of all the exciting opportunities ahead of them. It will go hand in hand with our overhaul of school food for the first time in over a decade, to ensure children across the country have delicious, nutritious food that helps them thrive.”
Consultation and public support
The consultation on banning sales of high-caffeine energy drinks to children ran from 3 September to 26 November 2025 and received 1,095 responses. Katharine Jenner, Executive Director of the Obesity Health Alliance, called it “a hugely popular policy, backed by parents, health professionals and the public, and a vital step towards protecting children’s health.” She noted strong evidence linking these drinks to anxiety, poor sleep, reduced concentration, and harm to learning and wellbeing. “Children in more deprived communities are disproportionately affected,” she added, urging the government to secure approval and ensure the ban starts promptly in April 2027.
Campaigners urge swift implementation
Barbara Crowther, Children’s Food Campaign Manager at Sustain, said: “The decision to ban sales of high-caffeine energy drinks to children is absolutely right, given strong evidence of their harmful effects on their physical, mental and dental health, and overwhelming public support including from parents, young people, health professionals, teachers and food retailers. We look forward to seeing legislation laid before Parliament at the earliest opportunity, to meet the April 2027 deadline. It’s now 2 years since the Labour government pledged this action - almost 300 million more high-caffeine energy drinks have been sold to children in that time. The decision is made, no more kicking the can down the road - let’s make this law now.”
