Labour looking into ban on selling energy drinks to under-16s
Party members are debating if the policy should be on its election manifesto
Labour is reported to be considering a ban on selling energy drinks to people under the age of 16.
Members of the party are considering whether to include the proposal as part of its election manifesto ahead of the general election later this year.
Should Labour win the election and get into power, this would be the second time that a ban on selling energy drinks to children would be implemented, following a drive by the Conservatives in 2019 - which eventually was not enforced.
Instead of a ban, MPs called for better labelling of the products, despite over 93% of respondents supported an outright ban on selling the drinks to those who were underage.
A typical large can of the likes of Red Bull and Monster can have as much as 200mg of caffeine, over two and a half times more than a regular cup of coffee - which usually contains just 80mg.
A study by the Government found that younger people are increasing their consumption of the drinks, with figures revealing as much as a third of all children in the UK are having one energy drink a week.
Several supermarkets across the country have already introduced their own ban on selling energy drinks to younger people - but they still remain available in smaller shops and vending machines.
Research has also found that excessive consumption of these energy drinks have a negative effect on mental and physical health, and scientists have backed calls for the ban - alongside concern at how they are being promoted to children.
Whilst members are continuing to debate the feasibility of the plan, the final decision will rest with Sir Kier Starmer if backed by Labour MPs.
Previously, Sir Kier hit out at claims that the party was trying to foster a "nanny state", after the leader revealed that the party would back a scheme for teachers to supervise brushing teeth in schools.
The Food Standards Agency have designated 'energy drinks' as those with high amounts of caffeine to provide a "boost" of both mental and physical energy.