ACS (the Association of Convenience Stores) has responded to the Department of Health and Social Care’s consultation which proposed to introduce a legal age restriction for energy drinks.
In the submission, ACS set out that if the government decides to introduce a legal age restriction for energy drinks that they will work with the government to promote compliance in the convenience sector through its Assured Advice scheme, which is approved by Surrey and Buckinghamshire Trading Standards.
ACS chief executive James Lowman said: “The convenience sector is extremely effective at enforcing age restrictions in-store on a wide range of products. If the government decides to introduce an age restriction for energy drinks, ACS will work with convenience retailers to ensure that it is implemented effectively across the sector.”
“Over half (53%) of independent convenience retailers and many larger groups have introduced policies to prevent the sales of energy drinks to under 16s, but a legally enforced age restriction at 16 years of age would provide retailers and consumer with absolute clarity on purchasing energy drinks”
Earlier this year, ACS polled 1,210 independent retailers on their energy drink sales policies in January 2018, with 53% of convenience retailers reporting that they do not sell energy drinks to under 16s.
The full submission is available here.
