Under 16s can't get their wings!

Wednesday 07 March 2018

The Channel Islands Co-op, Waitrose and Alliance tores are all said to be banning the sale of energy drinks to customers under the age of 16.

The voluntary bans will be enforced on any drink which contains more than 150mg of caffeine per litre.

The age restriction came into force at the Co-op stores earlier this week, following a consultation with the Co-op's UK Group.

Mark Cox, Chief Operating Officer of the Channel Islands Co-op, said the voluntary ban was introduced following growing concern about some young people drinking too many of the energy drinks: "It’s a balance between offering choice and doing the right thing, so the decision was taken to play a role in limiting young people’s access to high caffeine drinks."

Pictured: Mark Cox, Chief Operating Officer of the Channel Islands Co-op

Waitrose has also introduced a voluntary ban from this week, to stop any customers under 16 buying caffeinated energy drinks containing more than 150mg of caffeine per litre.

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

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.”

Anyone over the age of 16 who wants to buy one of the restricted energy drinks may be asked for ID to prove their age.

Pictured top: A sample of the energy drinks now restricted to customers aged 17 and over