Energy drinks will be banned for under-16s in England from April.

The ban came after 1,100 responses to a consultation. The introduction of an age limit on the drinks is strongly supported, External.

The new rules will come through secondary legislation using powers from the Food Safety Act 1990.

Too much caffeine can cause rapid heartbeat, irregular heartbeat and seizures.

Although it was rare, but they were Some deaths related to excess caffeine.

According to the Dietetic Association of the United Kingdom, the sugar content of the drinks contributes to obesity and tooth decay.

Currently, any beverage other than tea or coffee that contains more than 150mg of caffeine requires a label warning that it is not recommended for children or pregnant or breastfeeding women.

For most adults, up to 400mg of caffeine per day, or four cups of instant coffee or five cups of tea, is safe.

Kathryn Jenner, executive director of the Obesity Health Alliance, praised the policy and said, “It’s common sense to limit sales to children at an important time in their lives.”

The British Soft Drinks Association said the ban was “unnecessary”.

A spokesperson said: “Since 2010, our members have pledged not to market or promote energy drinks to under-16s, and all highly caffeinated drinks carry a ‘not recommended for children’ label.

The previous Conservative government had planned to introduce the ban but scrapped the move in 2022, saying consumption should be a personal choice.

Northern Ireland, Scotland and Wales are also considering a ban.