As Labour vows to ban 'dangerous' energy drinks for under-16s we reveal exactly what's in them that has some experts worried READ MORE: Labour vows to ban under-16s from buying energy drinks By Emily Stearn, Health Reporter and Rebecca Whittaker For Mailonline Published: 15:59, 11 June 2024 | Updated: 08:18, 12 June 2024 e-mail 22 shares 179 View comments U nder-16s could be barred from buying 'dangerously' high-caffeine energy drinks if Labour are elected in July. Many supermarket chains across the country have already introduced a voluntarily ban on selling the products to minors. But Sir Keir Starmer would make this mandatory should his party triumph at the General Election .
'Irresponsible' energy drink sales and marketing are 'driving a crisis in children's health' affecting their concentration, sleep and even mental health, Labour argues. Drinks such as Red Bull, Prime and Monster can have up to 150mg of caffeine, almost double that of a black coffee. Energy drinks have sky-high levels of ingredients that have powerful effects on the body.
Some brands can have up to 160mg of caffeine, almost triple that of an instant coffee, nearly 10-times the level of taurine, an amino acid commonly found in meat, fish and eggs, as a salmon fillet and the same amount of sugar as a full fat Coke Many supermarket chains across the country have already voluntarily introduced a ban on selling energy drinks to under-16s, although some smaller retailers such as corner shops are yet to follo.
