The Welsh Government has launched a consultation on proposals to introduce a ban on the sale of high-caffeine energy drinks to children under the age of 16.
Mirroring the consultation that took place last year in England, the consultation seeks views on the proposed enforcement framework, including online age-verification arrangements, assessing compliance activity, sanctions, implementation timescales and monitoring arrangements.
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If these proposals go ahead, businesses found to be selling high-caffeine energy drinks to under 16s could face a fixed monetary penalty. It is proposed that the fixed monetary penalty amount would be set at £1,500 for an individual, micro-business or small business (employing fewer than 50 people), and £2,500 for a medium-sized or large business (employing 50 or more people).
In 2022, the previous Welsh Government held a consultation focusing on the minimum age of sale for high caffeine energy drinks, the products and businesses in scope of a ban and the environments to which a ban should apply, including vending machines.
Submissions to the current consultation can be made here, with a deadline of 17 December.
Commenting on the Welsh announcement, Association of Convenience Stores chief executive Ed Woodall said: “Local shops have a strong track record of managing age restricted products and they will apply that same diligence to preventing under 16s accessing energy drinks. The vast majority of convenience retailers already have voluntary age restrictions in place.”
ACS polling of independent retailers in 2022 showed that four in five already have some form of voluntary policy in place to restrict the sale of energy drinks to young people. High caffeine soft drinks are currently labelled as ‘not recommended for children’.
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