Mandatory Measures
1. Should sales of energy drinks to young people under the age of 16 be banned?
Please select one item
Radio button:
Unticked
Yes
Radio button:
Ticked
No – the mandatory age limit should be 18
Radio button:
Unticked
No – there should be no mandatory age restrictions
Radio button:
Unticked
Unsure
Radio button:
Unticked
Other (please specify)
Please describe any factors you have taken into consideration and provide any evidence you have to support a specific age restriction.
I manage a youth project and we try to enforce a no energy drinks rule, alongside no drugs and alcohol for young people attending our activities and services.
We see very little distinction between young people's behaviour when consuming energy drinks, drugs or alcohol and we strongly believe that energy drinks should be age restricted to 18.
Many young people we work with consume huge amounts of these energy drinks and consequently have issues with sleeping and focusing on tasks. Young people under the influence of these energy drinks might as well be taking amphetamines!
We see very little distinction between young people's behaviour when consuming energy drinks, drugs or alcohol and we strongly believe that energy drinks should be age restricted to 18.
Many young people we work with consume huge amounts of these energy drinks and consequently have issues with sleeping and focusing on tasks. Young people under the influence of these energy drinks might as well be taking amphetamines!
Proposals for implementation and enforcement
2. If implemented, are there any places where energy drinks are currently sold, that should be exempt from mandatory age restrictions?
Please explain your answer and provide any thoughts on how this could work in practice. In particular, views are sought for energy drinks sales in vending machines and those made online.
No
I would support these products being age restricted anywhere they are likely to be accessed by young people.
Vending machines would be very difficult to oversee, so no energy drinks in vending machines for me!
I would support these products being age restricted anywhere they are likely to be accessed by young people.
Vending machines would be very difficult to oversee, so no energy drinks in vending machines for me!
4. Please comment on our proposals for evaluating any policies that are implemented.
Please comment on our proposals for evaluating any policies that are implemented.
Looks good to me!
Impact assessments
7. What, if any, impact do you think applying mandatory age restrictions to sales of energy drinks would have on businesses?
Please include any anticipated differential impacts, positive and negative, on sellers, distributors and manufacturers of energy drinks.
I have no experience of retail but would suspect that the impact of age restricted legislation would be very small.
Many young people consume energy drinks as an alternative to other soft drinks that are available. If they can't buy energy drinks, most will buy alternative soft drinks instead.
Many young people consume energy drinks as an alternative to other soft drinks that are available. If they can't buy energy drinks, most will buy alternative soft drinks instead.
Any other comments
9. Please outline any other comments you wish to make.
Please outline any other comments you wish to make.
Energy drinks are really useful tools that give a valuable boost at key times. I always carry one in my car on long journeys and occasionally use them to aid concentration.
Young people aren't always equipped to make informed choices and are at risk of over using these products, impacting on their health and well being. The only sensible way to limit young people's energy drink usage is to have age restrictions on their sale and I would argue that they are better placed to self regulate and make informed choices at 18.
Alternatively, minimum pricing would also do the trick and we have seen carnage during periods when energy drinks are on special offer.
Young people aren't always equipped to make informed choices and are at risk of over using these products, impacting on their health and well being. The only sensible way to limit young people's energy drink usage is to have age restrictions on their sale and I would argue that they are better placed to self regulate and make informed choices at 18.
Alternatively, minimum pricing would also do the trick and we have seen carnage during periods when energy drinks are on special offer.
About you
What is your name?
Name
David Hodson
What is your organisation?
Organisation
Redacted text