Ministers set to stop kids buying energy drinks as part of major childhood obesity clampdown
3 min read
Ministers are considering a ban on the sale "harmful" energy drinks to children as part of a drive to slash obesity rates among Britain’s youth.
The Government has unveiled plans to halve childhood obesity by 2030, with a string of new laws aimed at reducing caffeine and sugar intake under consideration as it looks to hit the target.
Among the proposals is a legal age limit on energy drinks, which ministers say are consumed by a quarter of six-to-nine year-olds despite being as "caffeine laden" as a cup of coffee.
The consultation will also look at making "calorie labelling" mandatory on all restaurant, café and takeaway menus "so parents can make an informed choice about what their families are eating".
Retailers could meanwhile be forced to stop displaying unhealthy food at checkouts or including it in buy-one-get-one-free deals, to crackdown on their "pester-power".
Health Secretary Jeremy Hunt said the cost to the NHS of obesity related-illnesses was "too great to ignore" just a week after Theresa May pledged £20bn of extra spending on the health service over the next four years.
"Parents want what is best for their children, but keeping them healthy and active can be difficult," he said.
"It is near impossible to shield children from exposure to unhealthy foods. Parents are asking for help – we know that over three quarters of parents find offers for sugary sweets and snacks at checkouts annoying.
"It’s our job to give power to parents to make healthier choices, and to make their life easier in doing so."
The clampdown could also see fresh restrictions on TV and online advertising, wits plugging unhealthy products banned before 9pm.
The Government say the limited exposure could "incentivise" companies to slash the the sugar and calories in the products they sell.
"There is evidence that popular family television programmes can be saturated with adverts for products high in sugar, fat and salt, and there is a clear link between these adverts and children eating sugary and fatty foods," they say.
'CATASTROPHIC EFFECT'
Elsewhere, ministers are also promoting a "new national ambition" for every primary school to adopt a daily ‘active mile’ initiative - backed up with £620,000 of funding for charity Living Street’s 'Walk to School' project.
The Government is also pledging a further £1m boost to fund 25,000 training places on the Department for Transport’s Bikeability cycling training programme.
Public Health Minister Steve Brine said: "One in three children are now overweight or obese by the time they leave primary school. Dangerous overconsumption, combined with reduced activity, is having a catastrophic effect on our children’s health, limiting their potential and putting them at risk of a shorter life.
"We all have a responsibility to act before we lose a generation of young people to this entirely avoidable epidemic."
Duncan Selbie, chief executive of Public Health England said: "Reversing this epidemic is possible provided everyone pulls together and the bold steps announced today will help turn the tide. No other country in the world is tackling this in such a comprehensive way.
"The plan acknowledges that childhood obesity is a complex issue and while parents are responsible for protecting children from obesity, there is a role that Government can and should play."
Slimming World's Jenny Caven said: "Obesity is a complex and multi-layered issue that has an impact on physical and mental health and emotional well being.
"The public is confused about how to eat healthily and is constantly bombarded with promotion of foods that are high in fat, salt and sugar.
"Arming people with knowledge to make healthier choices is essential and equipping families to eat healthily and become more active are the key to a healthy future for our children.
"There is strong evidence of a link between parents who are overweight and a child’s propensity to obesity and we agree that new initiatives and policy must encourage a whole-family approach"
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