The UK government has announced a decisive policy shift aimed at protecting the health of children by banning the sale of high-caffeine energy drinks to those under the age of 16 – a move that has sparked strong criticism from the vending industry.

This call, part of a broader strategy to promote healthier lifestyles among youth, responds to mounting public concern regarding the adverse effects of these beverages on children's health and wellbeing.

The proposed legislation, outlined by Health and Social Care Secretary Wes Streeting, will restrict the sale of popular energy drinks such as Red Bull, Monster and Prime in retail outlets, restaurants, cafes, vending machines and online platforms.

This ban is in line with commitments made during the King’s Speech 2024 and reflects the government's ambition to raise the healthiest generation of children in the UK.

Research indicates that up to one-third of UK children consume high-caffeine energy drinks weekly, with some products containing caffeine levels comparable to multiple cups of coffee.

The Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC) has expressed concern over the potential health implications, which include increased risks of headaches, sleep disturbances, anxiety and even more severe outcomes such as seizures in extreme cases.

Additionally, sugary variants of these drinks contribute to obesity and dental issues, further exacerbating public health challenges and putting extra strain on services like the NHS.

A systematic review of over 1.2 million young people across 21 countries has reinforced these concerns, linking energy drink consumption to negative health outcomes and reduced academic performance.

On BBC Radio 4's Today programme, Streeting highlighted the need for legislative action: “We have listened to health organisations, experts and public leaders calling for urgent action on high-caffeine energy drinks to protect children’s health”.

The government is launching a 12-week consultation to gather feedback from various stakeholders, including public health experts, parents, educators and the F&B industry.

This consultation aims to refine the details of the ban, including enforcement mechanisms and the specific products that will be affected.

The proposed enforcement measures will allow local authorities to issue fines for non-compliance, with penalties varying based on the size of the business. For instance, individual and small businesses may face fines of £1,500, while larger corporations could incur penalties of £2,500 for selling to underage customers.

What does this mean for the vending sector?

According to the consultation document, the government is also seeking views on how the ban should apply to vending machines.

Two options have been outlined: introducing a ban on the sale of high-caffeine energy drinks from all vending machines – regardless of the age of the person buying them – or placing responsibility on the premises operator to ensure that under-16s cannot access the products.

The consultation notes that a full ban could be simpler to enforce, while the alternative approach would require clear accountability from machine operators and site owners.

This move has drawn criticism from the the Vending & Automated Retail Association (AVA), which warned that a blanket ban on energy drink sales through vending machines could cost the UK vending industry £32 million annually.

The AVA says the ban would affect not only machines in public spaces, but also those in adult-only environments such as workplaces, which account for more than 80% of UK vending machines.

The UK vending sector – comprising 180 AVA members managing 460,000 machines nationwide – already operates a voluntary code of practice restricting sales in public-facing sites like local authority leisure centres.

David Llewellyn, chief executive officer of AVA, said: “AVA and its members have always taken the health and welfare of young people seriously, which is why the voluntary restrictions on energy drink sales in public-facing machines have been successful".

He added: "It is incredibly disappointing that, despite our discussions and clear evidence of industry responsibility, the government has chosen a route that penalises businesses and adult consumers alike".

"Banning all energy drinks in all vending machines, including those in workplaces, will cost our industry tens of millions of pounds, threaten jobs and reduce consumer choice without addressing the real issue.”

The AVA is urging the government to reconsider, arguing that its targeted, voluntary approach is effective without imposing a 'one-size-fits-all' regulation that removes choice from adults.