Energy drink sales ban for under-16s

THE Welsh Government is to follow the UK Government with plans to introduce a new law stopping anyone under the age of 16 buying energy drinks such as Red Bull, Monster and Prime from shops, restaurants, cafes, vending machines and online.

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UK health secretary Wes Streeting has said the change was coming after the UK Government was “been called upon” to act by parents, teachers and children.

In Wales, however, health is devolved, so it would be up to the Welsh Government about whether it wanted to pursue the same law.

Under the new plans, it will be illegal to sell energy drinks containing more than 150mg of caffeine per litre to anyone under 16 across all retailers, including online, in shops, restaurants, cafes and vending machines.

Lower-caffeine soft drinks - such as Coca-Cola, Coca-Cola Zero, Diet Coke and Pepsi - are not affected, and neither are tea and coffee.

However, high-caffeine energy drinks such as Red Bull, Monster, Relentless and Prime would all breach the limit.