Energy Drinks: Vending Machines
The question
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what assessment he has made of the potential impact of a ban on the sale of energy drinks through vending machines on the vending and automated retail sector.
Answered by Mrs Sharon Hodgson
The Government has a commitment to ban the sale of high-caffeine energy drinks to children under 16 years old. This has been subject to a consultation which we ran for 12-weeks from 3 September to 26 November 2025.
The accompanying impact assessment published on 3 September 2025 estimates the impact of our proposals, including on the vending sector. The Department engaged with relevant stakeholders, including representatives for the vending sector, to inform this. We will consider whether the final impact assessment requires updating if additional information or evidence provided through the consultation or published online becomes available.
The Government is considering all consultation responses and will publish its response in due course.
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