Parents are being urged to take a hard look at what their children are buying after the government confirmed a crackdown on high-caffeine energy drinks for under-16s. Ministers have announced that all retailers in England will be banned from selling energy drinks with more than 150mg of caffeine per litre to anyone aged under 16.
The measure is designed to cut children’s exposure to highly caffeinated products amid mounting concerns about the impact of regular consumption. It is believed that children can feel the effects of caffeine more strongly than adults, and some of them are rather unpleasant.
According to GOV.UK, excess caffeine for adults, for example, can lead to trouble sleeping, as well as axiety, increased nervousness, and headaches. Meanwhile, other effects includes irritability/mood changes, restlessless, a fast heartbeat, and a dependence on caffeine that could lead to withdrawal symptoms when going without it.
Then for adolescents, the health effects are similar but could be more significant. Hopkins Medicine suggests this is due to their “developing brains” and “smaller bodies”, potentially leading to the following symptoms:
Stephanie Green, a pediatric endocrinologist at Johns Hopkins Children’s Center, explained how “while 400 milligrams of caffeine each day appears to be safe for most healthy adults,” the exact amount for a child “is not known”.
The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) advises that children between the ages of 12 and 18 “should not” consume more than 100 milligrams per day, and that they should “avoid energy drinks entirely”. As such, the UK has taken a step to ensure just that.
Several of Britain’s major supermarkets – including Tesco, Asda, Sainsbury’s, Aldi, Lidl, Morrisons and Waitrose – already operate voluntary ‘Challenge 25’-style rules that refuse sales to under-16s. The key change is that the restriction will become mandatory across all retailers in England, including convenience stores and vending machines.
This story originally appeared on Express.co.uk
