![Labour plans to ban under-16s buying high-caffeine energy drinks Labour plans to ban under-16s buying high-caffeine energy drinks](https://i2.wp.com/ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/1024/branded_news/9f98/live/f137d3a0-27e0-11ef-9588-6d96e597ad15.jpg?w=1200&resize=1200,0&ssl=1)
Shops would have to check ID if they thought buyers could be under age, as they currently do with alcohol and tobacco.
Trading-standards officers would police the ban and retailers face fines of up to £2,500.
Asked why Labour would not include other high-caffeine drinks such as some coffees, leader Keir Starmer said: “Because this is aimed at children and the sort of drinks that at the moment, the energy drinks, that they are drinking.
“I mean Monster, I think, is the number one.
“Just to give you a sense of that – the caffeine in that is the equivalent of several espressos, which is why it’s having such an effect on children’s behaviour.
“Talk to anyone who’s in a school and they’ll tell you what the problem is.”
The Lib Dems says they would extend the “sugar tax” on soft drinks to juice-based and milk-based drinks that are high in added sugar.
In Scotland, meal deals are to be stripped of crisps and fizzy drinks under SNP plans to tackle an obesity crisis.