OpenConsultation consultationoutcome

Banning the sale of high-caffeine energy drinks to children

From:
Department of Health and Social Care
PublishedPublished:
3 September 2025
Last updated:
16 July 2026 — See all updates

Applies to England

This consultation has concluded

Read the full outcome

Banning the sale of high-caffeine energy drinks to children: consultation outcome

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Detail of outcome

Following a 12-week public consultation, the government has confirmed that it will ban the sale of high-caffeine energy drinks to children aged under 16 in England.

The ban will apply to drinks, other than tea or coffee, containing more than 150 milligrams of caffeine per litre. It will cover all retailers, including shops, restaurants, cafes and online sellers. Sales from all vending machines will also be banned.

This consultation outcome sets out the feedback received and the government’s decisions on the:

  • scope of the ban
  • enforcement arrangements
  • implementation timeline

Original consultation

Summary

The government is seeking views on the proposed ban on the sale of high-caffeine energy drinks to children under the age of 16 years in England.

This consultation closesran atfrom
to

Consultation description

This consultation seeks views on banning the sale of high-caffeine energy drinks to children under the age of 16 years (that is, children aged 15 years and under). This includes proposals on:

  • the minimum age of sale for high-caffeine energy drinks
  • the products and businesses in scope of the ban
  • how the ban will apply in vending machines
  • the length of time that businesses and enforcement authorities need to implement the ban
  • how the ban would be enforced

The proposed ban would apply in England only, since policy relating to high-caffeine energy drinks is a devolved matter.

The consultation document outlines the background on high-caffeine energy drinks and why government is concerned about children consuming them.

The consultation impact assessment sets out our provisional assessment of the impact of the proposals.

Documents

Banning the sale of high-caffeine energy drinks to children

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Banning the sale of high-caffeine energy drinks to children: impact assessment

PDF, 1.32 MB, 165 pages

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Ways to respond

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Updates to this page

Published 3 September 2025
Last updated 16 July 2026 — Show all updates

  1. Added the outcome to the consultation, including details of the feedback received.

  2. First published.

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