Major UK supermarkets have tightened age checks and store systems for high-caffeine energy drinks as the government consults on a legal ban on sales to under-16s in England.
Ministers propose using the Food Safety Act 1990 to prohibit sales of drinks above 150mg caffeine per litre, enforced by local authorities with fixed monetary penalties—£1,500 for small retailers and £2,500 for larger firms, rising if unpaid.
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Retailer policies already in place
Most national grocers introduced voluntary age restrictions in 2018, asking shoppers to prove they are over 16 when buying energy drinks over the 150mg/litre threshold. That includes Asda, Aldi, Lidl, Morrisons, Tesco, Sainsbury’s, Co-op and Waitrose.
Asda said at the time it would prevent sales to under-16s; Aldi states it was among the first to stop selling to under-16s; Sainsbury’s signposts the restriction on its energy-drinks page; and widespread 2018 adoption across the multiples is well documented.
Operational impacts for stores and online
Retailers say “Think 25” prompts and self-checkout interventions are used to gate sales of age-restricted items, with ID requested if a customer appears under 25—policies now applied to energy drinks in many chains.
For online grocery, delivery terms require an adult to receive age-restricted goods; drivers can refuse handover if proof is not available.
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By GlobalDataThese measures mirror current alcohol workflows and would underpin compliance if the UK energy drink ban for under-16s becomes law.
Where independents and vending fit in
While big chains have moved early, officials note some smaller stores continue to sell to children, which is one reason ministers favour a statutory baseline across all channels, including vending machines and ecommerce.
The consultation proposes a simple vending rule—no sales from machines—to avoid under-age access, drawing on lessons from tobacco vending.
Trade media have urged retailers, suppliers and convenience operators to respond to the consultation so enforcement is practical and proportionate.
What to watch on ranging, signage and verification
If legislation proceeds after consultation, grocers will need clear POS signage, consistent product tagging (using the existing “high caffeine content” label as the trigger), and robust age-verification at delivery and click & collect.
The measure would formalise current practice at the big six—Tesco, Sainsbury’s, Asda, Morrisons, Aldi and Lidl—and create a level playing field for convenience, hospitality and online marketplaces.
For category managers, expect limited planogram change (as products remain ranged for adults) but tighter checkout prompts and training refreshes for colleagues.
