Skip to content
Search
AI Powered
Latest Stories

Labour's energy drink ban will require 'additional resources' for trading standards

Labour's energy drink ban will require 'additional resources' for trading standards
(Photo by Justin Setterfield/Getty Images)
Getty Images

Energy drink ban will require additional resources for trading standards after it emerged that Labour party has announced its intention to ban the sale of high caffeine energy drinks to under 16s, if they were to form the next government.

Ahead of the launch of their full manifesto later this week, Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer has said that the sale of high caffeine energy drinks to children was "not justifiable or acceptable’'


Under the proposals, any energy drink containing more than 150mg of caffeine per litre would not be available to anyone under the age of 16. The policy is expected to be enforced by Trading Standards.

There are no current restrictions on energy drinks in UK law. However, all major UK manufacturers advise on their product labelling that these products are not suitable for children which they define as under 16s.

Figures from a UK wide survey of convenience store retailers in 2022 show that 80 per cent of stores who sell energy drinks have a voluntary policy in place to not sell to under-16s.

ACS chief executive James Lowman said today (11), “The majority of convenience retailers operate voluntary policies, often in consultation with local schools, to restrict access to energy drinks for children. We offer guidance to members on working with schools and local people to define the right policies for their community.

“If a national ban is introduced it needs to be clearly communicated to both retailers and customers and properly enforced, with additional resources being given to trading standards departments who are already overstretched dealing with their current commitments.”

More for you

Post Office cash deposits and withdrawals
Post Office, DPD partners to rollout ‘Click and Collect’ services
Post Office, DPD partners to rollout ‘Click and Collect’ services

Parliament to launch inquiry into Post Office Horizon scandal compensation delays

Parliament is to launch an inquiry into delays in compensation settlements for sub postmasters affected by the Horizon scandal.

The newly-formed Business and Trade Select Committee will call ministers, subpostmasters and their lawyers to give evidence next week with a second session to follow in mid-November. The Committee’s chair, Liam Byrne MP told ITV News that there was “definitely a delay” in people coming forward for payment.

Keep ReadingShow less
C-store body warns of 'inflation-busting increase in wage costs'
Woman Holding British Pound
Getty Images/iStockphoto

C-store body warns of 'inflation-busting increase in wage costs'

Convenience store body Association of Convenience Stores (ACS) today (30) has warned the Chancellor about the negative effects of the new National Living Wage (NLW) increase, a day after the Chancellor announced a pay rise for over 3 million workers next year, with NLW rates rising by 6.7 perc cent.

From April 2025, the NLW will increase from £11.44 to £12.21 while 18-20 National Minimum Wage will rise by £1.40 per hour to £10 - the largest increase on record, marking the first step towards a single adult rate.

Keep ReadingShow less
SPAR retailer hits target to secure £100,000 free stock from James Hall

SPAR retailer hits target to secure £100,000 free stock from James Hall

SPAR North of England retailer Dara Singh Randhawa’s family store has been awarded £100,000 of free stock after hitting all his targets since moving to the symbol.

Dara and his family, who have their SPAR store in Patrington in the East Riding of Yorkshire, joined SPAR through its association with James Hall & Co. Ltd in August 2023 having taken the decision to maximise the store’s potential.

Keep ReadingShow less
Pound Sterling bank notes
iStock

National Living Wage to increase to £12.21 in April 2025

The government has on Wednesday announced its acceptance of the Low Pay Commission’s (LPC) recommendations on the rates of the National Minimum Wage (NMW), including the National Living Wage (NLW).

The rates which will apply from 1 April 2025 are as follows:

Keep ReadingShow less
Food inflation eases as retailers treat customers to spooky season deals

iStock image

Food inflation eases as retailers treat customers to spooky season deals

October saw shop prices fall marginally further into deflation for the third consecutive month with food inflation eased, particularly for meat, fish and tea along with chocolate and sweets as retailers treated customers to spooky season deals, shows industry data released today (29).

According to British Retail Consortium (BRC), shop price deflation was at 0.8 per cent in October, down from deflation of 0.6 per cent in the previous month. This is below the 3-month average rate of -0.6 per cent. Shop price annual growth was at its lowest rate since August 2021.

Keep ReadingShow less