Government crackdown on sale of energy drinks to under-16s

Nationwide ban could come into force within months if approved

- by David McLean

Just one can of high caffeine energy drink is the same as "necking four cans of Coke", the Health Secretary has said, as he vowed to protect children's health.

Wes Streeting said eight out of 10 parents wanted to see a ban on the sale of high caffeine energy drinks to children.

The Government has launched a 12-week consultation on the issue and plans to implement the change as soon as it can.

Mr Streeting told BBC Breakfast on Wednesday that teachers are also concerned as they “see the impact of these drinks on children’s concentration, their learning, their behaviour”.

Meanwhile, doctors “have warned about the long term impact of these high caffeine energy drinks, many of them full of sugar - just one can of this stuff is the equivalent of necking four cans of Coke,” he said.

"You can see the impact on the health, the concentration, the learning, and that is why we are acting.