Aldi and Asda ban sale of energy drinks to under-16s
Store praise for Mirror’s campaign
TWO of Britain’s leading supermarkets have agreed to the Mirror’s calls for health-damaging energy drinks to be banned for under-16s.
Asda is the first of the Big Four retailers to introduce an age restriction on 84 products from March 5, the same day Waitrose previously announced.
And Aldi will start its restrictions four days earlier on March 1, requiring anyone it believes to be underage to show ID to buy a soft drink containing more than 150mg of caffeine per litre.
The move follows a Mirror campaign, alongside chef Jamie Oliver, for a ban by the Government on the sale of energy drinks after they were linked to poor academic performance and health problems.
Oliver said: “The massively positive response from Mirror readers and the public to this campaign has been amazing.
“We now need the rest of the big supermarkets to stand up and do the right thing, as well as the independent corner shops.”
Energy drinks such as Red Bull, Relentless, Monster Energy and Rockstar are among a growing range on sale in super- markets. Some can have up to 160mg of caffeine per 500ml. A 10-year-old should not consume more than 99mg a day.
This week, we told how teacher Laura Douglas quit the profession because aggressive pupils “high on energy drinks” ruined the job for her.
The 38-year-old said she has been sworn at and had lessons ruined by youngsters, adding “this is a genuinely massive problem for teachers”. Kawther Hashem, nutritionist at Action on Sugar, said: “We hope all the other big retailers will comply. Energy drinks are a contributor to sugar intake, which is linked to the development of obesity and various types of cancer, as well as type 2 diabetes and is rotting our children’s teeth.”
Andrew Murray, of Asda, said: “We applaud the Mirror for their campaign on this issue. We want to take a leading position in this area to support parents and teachers.”
And Oliver King, of Aldi, said: “We are introducing this age restriction in response to growing concern about the consumption of energy drinks among young people.”
UK youngsters are among the highest consumers of energy drinks in Europe.
The sugar in energy drinks is linked to obesity, cancer and diabetes KAWTHER HASHEM ACTION ON SUGAR NUTRITIONIST