Labour to BAN under-16s from buying energy drinks and change vape rules

LABOUR will ban children under 16 from buying energy drinks, Keir Starmer has announced.

The party chief said high-caffeine drinks like Monster and Prime Energy would be taped off to most kids in measures already backed by telly cook Jamie Oliver.

ReutersSir Keir Starmer’s manifesto outlines plans to tackle the childhood obesity crisis[/caption]

The rules would apply to drinks with more than 150mg of caffeine per litre, like Monster and Prime Energy

The party’s manifesto, released this morning, says: “We face a childhood obesity crisis.

“So, Labour is committed to banning advertising junk food to children along with the sale of high-caffeine energy drinks to under-16s.”

The measures also mean fast food junk meals will not be advertised to children.

The Conservatives had also planned to ban under-16s from buying energy drinks but scrapped the pledge over ‘nanny state’ fears.

Most supermarkets have already introduced a voluntary ban on the sale of energy drinks to teens.

It is understood drinks containing more than 150mg of caffeine per litre would be banned from being sold in shops and online.

Drinks such as Coca-Cola and bottled Lucozade fall under the limit.

But a 500ml can of Monster Energy contains 160mg and would be banned.

Labour’s shadow health secretary Wes Streeting warned children were attending school “wired on the equivalent of three shots of espresso, from these toxic drinks”.

He added: “It stops them sleeping and damages their mental health.

“How on Earth do we expect children to learn with that in their system?”

At the Labour manifesto launch, Sir Keir Starmer…

Ruled out raising income tax, national insurance, or VAT

Committed to keeping the pensions triple lock, which increases the state pension each year in line with the highest of inflation, earnings or 2.5%

Promised a benefits shake-up, working with local authorities to get more disabled and sick people back into employment.

Pledged to remove the ‘discriminatory’ age bands affecting the National Minimum Wage

Vowed to ban advertising junk food to children along with the sale of high-caffeine energy drinks to under-16

Promised to hike defence spending to 2.5% of GDP

Promised to slap VAT on private schools to fund 6,500 new teachers

Pledged to build 1.5million new homes

The pledge has already been backed by TV chef Jamie Oliver, who said: “You would be amazed if you saw how many kids have breakfast in the form of an energy drink.”

He added some kids were “bouncing off the walls” in the classroom, forcing teachers to resort to “plan B or plan C” lessons.

The 125-page manifesto also confirmed that a smoking ban originally proposed by Rishi Sunak will be reintroduced.

It reads: “Labour will ensure the next generation can never legally buy cigarettes and ensure all hospitals integrate ‘opt-out’ smoking cessation interventions into routine care.

“Labour will ban vapes from being branded and advertised to appeal to children to stop the next generation from becoming hooked on nicotine.”