Waitrose bans selling energy drinks to schoolchildren

Supermarket Waitrose has put a ban on the sale of energy drinks to under-16s due to concerns about its high levels of sugar and caffeine.

The ban will be implemented from 5 March 2018 and customers buying caffeinated energy drinks with more than 150mg of caffeine per litre will be asked to prove they are over the age of 16.

The move builds on existing industry labelling guidelines, which require any soft drink with more than 150 mg of caffeine per litre to carry a high caffeine content warning and state it is not recommended for children.

Waitrose is currently the only UK supermarket to announce it will introduce a sales policy aligned with the guidance present on energy drink packaging.

Simon Moore, Waitrose director of technical & corporate social responsibility, commented: “As a responsible retailer we want to sell these products in line with the labelling guidance.

“These drinks carry advice stating that they are not recommended for children, so we’re choosing to proactively act on that guidance, particularly given the widespread concerns which have been raised about these drinks when consumed by under 16s.”