Energy drink ban will push children onto sugary soda

THE ban on energy drinks will push children to buy sugary soft drinks instead, ministers have admitted.

The Government expects that 90 per cent of the energy drinks that children currently buy will be replaced after the ban by other soft drinks, official documents from the Department of Health and Social Care show.

Its “impact assessment” also assumes under-16s will spend the same amount on drinks as they do now.

“We have assumed that regular energy drinks will be replaced with regular soft drinks and that diet energy drinks will be replaced with diet soft drinks,” it said.

This week the Government announced children will be banned from buying energy drinks under plans announced by Theresa May to tackle disruptive behaviour in classrooms.

The sale of highly-caffeinated sugary brands including Red Bull and Monster will be prohibited up to the age of 18.

Christopher Snowden, head of market economics at the Institute of Economic Affairs think tank, said: “These drinks don’t generally have more sugar in them than drinks like Coca Cola – so it should be banning the sale of all sugary drinks.” He added: If they’re not buying a lot of coffee now, they certainly will do once the government stops them buying energy drinks.”