Asda, Aldi, Sainsbury’s and Waitrose supermarkets will prohibit customers under the age of 16 from buying energy drinks that contain more than 150-mg of caffeine after March 2018.
The restrictions will apply to at least 84 products, including popular energy drinks such as Monster, Rockstar and Red Bull.
According to Oliver King, Aldi managing director of corporate responsibility:
We are introducing this age restriction in response to growing concern about the consumption of energy drinks among young people.”
The other “Big 4” supermarkets also cited safety concerns about energy drink side effects on young people when announcing the ban.
Aldi will apply the age restriction after March 1. Asda and Waitrose will apply it after March 5, 2018.
After this date, customers who want to buy energy drinks — either in the store or online — may need to show appropriate identification.
The teachers’ union NASUWT welcomed the move, calling energy drinks a “legal high” for children. Last month, they called on schools to ban energy drinks.