Corner shops to stop selling kids energy drinks
Decision follows UK ban by supermarkets
SHOPS across Scotland will ban the sale of energy drinks to children over fears about the ‘dangers’ they pose to health.
Retailers agreed the landmark move amid growing concerns about the high sugar and caffeine content in some of the drinks.
The National Federation of Independent Retailers (NFRN) has told its members to refuse to sell such drinks to under-16s. It represents 1,500 newsagents, convenience stores and shops across Scotland.
The move follows a similar voluntary ban by major supermarkets across the UK earlier this month.
Last night, NFRN Scottish president Rory O’Brien said: ‘Our members in Scotland pride themselves on retailing responsibly, so banning the sale of energy drinks to under-16s is a logical next step.’
Posters will be produced for NFRN members to display in their stores advising customers they will no longer sell caffeine-packed drinks to under-16s.
The ban came into effect at the end of its Inverness conference on Monday.
Guidance on many cans states energy drinks are not suitable for children.
But a study by the European Food Safety Authority found as many as 69 per cent of under-18s and almost a quarter of children under ten consume energy drinks in the UK.
The drinks can cause problems in youngsters including headaches, palpitations and insomnia and they have been linked to disruptive behaviour.
The move by the NFRN follows a motion to its conference by the Aberdeen branch. The motion stated: ‘Conference supports the principle of a voluntary ban on sales of high-energy drinks labelled as being unsuitable for children under 16 and recommends all members be made aware of the dangers of such products to young people.’
Aberdeen branch member Jim Maitland, who proposed the move, said: ‘We hope through the adoption of a voluntary ban by members in Scotland, the need for the introduction of yet another piece of legislation for small retailers to worry about will be avoided.’
Earlier this year celebrity chef Jamie Oliver called for a ‘revolution against fizzy energy drinks’ to protect children and asked the public to press the UK Government for a ban on their sale to under-16s. Energy drinks usually con- tain 80-160mg of caffeine per can, the equivalent of three cans of cola or one mug of coffee.
The UK Food Standards Agency says a typical tenyear-old could consume 90mg of caffeine in a single dose or throughout a day without ‘safety concerns’. However, it recommends children consume caffeine only ‘in moderation’.
A sugar tax on soft drinks is being introduced across the UK from April in a bid to tackle obesity. The move has prompted major manufacturers to cut sugar in some of their popular products, including AG Barr, the maker of Irn-Bru.
However, there are currently no moves by the Scottish or UK governments to introduce legislation banning the sale of energy drinks to children.
Last night, Public Health Minister Aileen Campbell said: ‘We welcome the leadership shown by these retailers in restricting the sale of energy drinks to young people under the age of 16 and I would urge those who have not yet taken this step to do likewise.’
‘It’s a logical next step’