Jamie Oliver today hailed 'exciting' Labour plans to ban under-16s from buying high-caffeine energy drinks like Prime, Red Bull and Monster if they win power.
The restaurateur and chef warned spoke out over plans by Sir keir Starmer to outlaw the sale of drinks containing more than 150mg of caffeine per litre to minors if it wins power on July 4.
Red Bull has 80mg of caffeine in a 250ml can, equivalent to 320mg/l, while brands including Prime, Monster and Rockstar have similar or higher rates.
Mr Oliver, 49, said that schoolchildren are having energy drinks as a substitute breakfast, leading to an 'absolute nightmare' for teachers.
In a video posted on X he said: 'It's a small thing but it is a big thing. When we have got some of the most unhealthy kids in Europe we need to not have one thing, we need many many things that are going to help make our kids fitter, healthier, have better outcomes and just flourish and be more productive as adults and cost the NHS less.'
He added: From my point of view for the past 17 years working in many secondary schools around the country, you would be amazed if you saw how many kids have breakfast in the firm of an energy drink...
'If you've got kids coming to school having energy drinks for breakfast it is not healthy – we are talking three or four shots of espresso in one of these tins, loads of sugar, so an absolute nightmare.'
It came after shadow health secretary Wes Streeting told BBC Radio 4's Today programme that the restriction was a response to 'the outcry from parents and teachers who are seeing the consequences of these high energy drinks on children's concentration, their wellbeing, their sleep, their mental health'.
The restaurateur and chef warned spoke out over plans by Sir keir Starmer to outlaw the sale of drinks containing more than 150mg of caffeine per litre to minors if it wins power on July 4.
Asked on a visit to a school why Labour would not include other high-caffeine drinks such as some coffees in its proposed ban on selling to children, he told reporters: 'Because this is aimed at children and the sort of drinks that at the moment, the energy drinks that they are drinking.'
Several energy drinks which can be bought in UK shops have more than double the caffeine content on an average cup of coffee (80mg)
Shadow health secretary Wes Streeting told BBC Radio 4's Today programme that the restriction was a response to 'the outcry from parents and teachers who are seeing the consequences of these high energy drinks on children's concentration, their wellbeing, their sleep, their mental health'.
The Labour politician added: 'The reason why we're being far more interventionist when it comes to children is because we can see how irresponsible sales and marketing are driving a crisis in children's health.'
Sir Keir Starmer singled out Monster energy drink as a problem in classrooms and for children's health.
Asked on a visit to a school in Middlesbrough why Labour would not include other high-caffeine drinks such as some coffees in its proposed ban on selling to children, he told reporters: '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.
'But also it's got a very detrimental effect on their teeth. As I said in some of the clips earlier, I was genuinely shocked and angered to learn that more children go to hospital to have their teeth taken out, six to 10-year-olds, than any other operation.
'I was aghast when I heard that and I say to anyone, I defy anyone who says we'll just walk past that problem because I'm not prepared to walk past it.'
The party said it expects soft drinks such as Coca-Cola to fall below the caffeine per litre limit, but a 500ml can of Monster Energy would exceed it.
National trading standards would be expected to enforce the policy.
Energy drinks including Rockstar, PRIME and Monster all possess between 160-200mg of caffeine per 500ml - double the amounts found in an average cup of coffee, at around 80mg.
The drinks also contain over four times the amount of caffeine as your average 330ml can of coke - a drink which itself is famously best enjoyed in moderation.
PRIME, which is promoted by YouTubers Logan Paul and KSI, has become a worldwide sensation since its launch in 2022. Social media hype around PRIME products led to it quickly selling out in supermarkets, leading to massive queues, rules on how many each customer could buy, scuffles breaking out in the aisles, bottles selling for as much as £100 and muggings and near-riots in shops amid the global frenzy.
However, the popular energy drink has been accused of encouraging children to make unhealthy choices.
Gavin Partington, director general of the British Soft Drinks Association, said: 'In line with and in the spirit of our own long-standing Code of Practice, BSDA members do not market or promote the sale of energy drinks to under 16s and label all high-caffeine beverages as 'not recommended for children', so we welcomed the move by retailers (in 2018) to voluntarily restrict sales to under 16s.
'It's worth remembering that the European Food Safety Authority has confirmed the safety of energy drink ingredients. We remain committed to supporting their responsible sale but it's important that any government policy in this area is evidence based.'
