Labour Plan To Ban Sale Of High Caffeine Energy Drinks To Under 16's If They Win The Election
Labour has announced plans to ban the sale of high-caffeine energy drinks to under-16s if they win the upcoming general election. The proposal targets drinks like Monster, Prime Energy, and Red Bull, which have a caffeine content of over 150mg per litre.
Soft drinks like Coca-Cola and Lucozade, which fall below this caffeine threshold, would not be included in the ban.
Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer stated that selling these highly caffeinated drinks to children is "not justifiable or acceptable," adding, "We’ll stop it. I will always take the tough decisions necessary to keep our children healthy."
Shadow health secretary Wes Streeting echoed these concerns, warning that children were attending school "wired on the equivalent of three shots of espresso" from these "toxic drinks." He emphasised the negative impact on their sleep, mental health, and ability to learn.
Jamie Oliver Speaks Out In Support Of Ban
TV chef Jamie Oliver, a longtime advocate for healthier food choices for children, welcomed the proposal. He highlighted the issue of kids consuming energy drinks for breakfast, which leads to disruptive behaviour in classrooms.
Oliver remarked on X, formerly known as Twitter, "You would be amazed if you saw how many kids have breakfast in the form of an energy drink." He stressed the importance of prioritising child health in political agendas.
The enforcement of this ban would be similar to current age restrictions on alcohol and tobacco, requiring retailers to check IDs for potential underage buyers. Trading standards officers would be responsible for policing the ban, with retailers facing fines of up to £2,500 for non-compliance.
Labour Plan To Make 100,000 Extra Dentist Appoinments For Children Alongside Energy Drink Ban
In addition to the energy drink ban, Labour plans to address the crisis in NHS dentistry by creating 100,000 extra dentist appointments for children. These appointments aim to clear backlogs and improve dental health.
The initiative includes supervised toothbrushing programs for young children and other measures to enhance dental care. This move is part of a broader effort to address the significant dental health issues among children, including the high rates of tooth decay and related hospital admissions.
Labour's comprehensive approach reflects a commitment to improving child health through both dietary regulations and enhanced healthcare access. The party aims to fund these initiatives by cracking down on tax avoidance and tightening rules on non-dom tax status.
