Sainsbury’s becomes latest supermarket giant to ban sale of energy drinks to under-16s
Ban will come into effect in March after drinks were linked to low academic performance and health problems.
SAINSBURY'S has become the latest supermarket to ban the sale of energy drinks to under-16s.
The supermarket joins Aldi, Asda, and Waitrose in making the pledge to withhold the highly caffeinated products from youngsters.
The supermarkets will ask anyone it believes to be underage to show ID to buy a soft drink containing more than 150mg of caffeine per litre from March 1.
Current guidelines require any soft drink with that level of caffeine in them to be labelled with a warning and state that it's not suitable for children.
Drinks like Red Bull, Relentless, Monster Energy and Rockstar have become increasingly popular in recent years.
Sales of the drinks in the UK increased by 185 per cent between 2006 and 2015, with the industry now worth more than £2billion.
But a single 500ml can contain as much as 160mg of caffeine, which is the same as two shots of espresso, sparking health fears.
Consumption of the drinks has been linked to low academic performance and dietary problems.
Sainsbury’s said: "From March 1 we'll prevent the sale of high-caffeine energy drinks to under-16s."
All of Aldi and Aldi caffeinated energy drink products will be subject to the age-check. The rule will apply to all of Aldi's stores in the UK and Ireland from March 1.
Asda's ban will come into force on March and will be across all of its 646 stores.
It follows a similar ban from Waitrose which comes into force on March 5.
Last month leading teachers' union NASUWT called for the sale of the drinks to be banned for under-16s due to the high amount of sugar and caffeine in them.
While Waitrose is the first supermarket to introduce the ban, it's not the first shop to do so.
In October, newsagent boss Rajendra Parekh banned the sale of energy drinks to under-18s.
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Andrew Murray, Asda’s chief customer officer said: “We take our responsibilities as a retailer seriously and work hard to ensure we get the balance right between offering choice and doing the right thing.
"We have listened to our customers and want to take a leading position in this area to support parents and teachers in limiting young peoples’ access to high caffeine drinks.”
Oliver King, managing director of corporate responsibility at Aldi, said: “We are introducing this age restriction in response to growing concern about the consumption of energy drinks among young people.”
Where have energy drinks been banned?
Energy drinks are sold around the world. But some countries have tried to control their selling to children.
France, Denmark, Norway - Red Bull was banned from sale for 12 years until 2008 due to concerns about its impact on peoples' health
Lithuania - In 2014, the country banned the selling of all energy drinks to anyone under the age of 18
Germany - In 2009, six German states ordered shops to stop selling Red Bull Cola after traces of cocaine were found in it
Hungary - The country introduced a new tax on unhealthy food and drinks including energy drinks
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