Ministers point to documented physical and mental harms, including headaches, tiredness, anxiety, and depression, as the driving force behind the proposed age restriction. A public consultation will address key logistical hurdles, such as enforcing compliance, establishing sanctions, and securing reliable online age verification. Meanwhile, dietitians warn that young consumers risk developing dependencies and skipping nutritious meals in favour of these beverages. Industry groups dispute these claims, maintaining that evidence of overconsumption remains unproven.
Key points
Welsh health authorities aim to curb adverse effects such as sleep loss, stomach aches, a…: Welsh health authorities aim to curb adverse effects such as sleep loss, stomach aches, and heightened anxiety in youths.
Support from dietitians centers on preventing young people from replacing nutritious meal…: Support from dietitians centers on preventing young people from replacing nutritious meals with sugary, highly caffeinated alternatives.
The British Soft Drinks Association actively opposes the legislation, arguing that robust…: The British Soft Drinks Association actively opposes the legislation, arguing that robust evidence of overconsumption or harm is lacking.
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- Published
Young people and experts say they support the Welsh government's plan to ban children under 16 from buying high-caffeine energy drinks.
The Welsh government said that evidence suggests a link between "consumption of high-caffeine energy drinks and negative health outcomes", and is considering a ban on under 16s buying them.
BBC Wales spoke to young people in Cardiff who said they supported the proposed ban, with one 17-year-old saying it was "really easy to start relying on them".
The British Soft Drinks Association said the proposed ban was "unnecessary and not supported by robust evidence of overconsumption or harm".
The news follows the ban in England where drinks like Red Bull, Monster, Relentless and Prime will be illegal to sell to under-16s from April, aimed at reducing obesity levels, disrupted sleep and anxiety.
Any drink containing more than 150mg of caffeine per litre will be illegal to sell to children and younger teenagers in shops, restaurants, cafes, vending machines and online from next April in England.
Lower-caffeine soft drinks, such Diet Coke, as well as tea and coffee…
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