Retailers online and off are set to be prohibited from selling energy drinks containing more than 150mg of caffeine per litre to anyone under 16. That means drinks such as Red Bull, Monster, Relentless and Prime Energy will be covered, and it will force their industry to reformulate their products.
There is real scope for gains in oral health given the high sugar content in many of these products and even the zero/low sugar versions have an erosive impact on teeth due to high levels of acidity.
“Products that are habit forming, highly acidic and can contain over 20 teaspoons of sugar have no place on the menu for children,” says BDA Chair Eddie Crouch. “Our kids are growing up in a toxic food environment, and this boldness needs to be applied across the piece.”
We have pressed for change for years, but we feel government should go further and faster – and tens of thousands of you have already backed the call. The time has come to tackle the catastrophic impact of unhealthy food and drink on children’s health, with mandatory guidelines for industry and expansion of the sugar levy.
