Age restrictions on energy drinks by country

Last updated

As of January 2026:
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Not banned by law
Sale prohibited to persons under 14
Sale prohibited to persons under 16
Sale prohibited to persons under 18
Sale prohibited to persons under 21
No available information Age restrictions on energy drinks by country (by law).svg
As of January 2026:
  Not banned by law
  Sale prohibited to persons under 14
  Sale prohibited to persons under 16
  Sale prohibited to persons under 18
  Sale prohibited to persons under 21
  No available information

The age restrictions on energy drinks by country list compares laws that set a minimum purchase age (or otherwise restrict sales) of energy drinks for minors. In many jurisdictions there is no national age-of-sale law; instead, governments rely on caffeine warning labels (e.g., under Regulation (EU) No 1169/2011) and voluntary retail policies. [1] Public-health bodies in several countries advise that high-caffeine drinks are not recommended for children. [2] [3]

Contents

In some countries, retailers apply a sales policy restricting the sale of energy drinks to minors, even though the law does not prohibit their sale.

CountryMinimum ageNotes
Albania18 [4] Law includes explicit clause: “Ndalohet shitja e pijeve energjike personave nën 18 vjeç”; extends school/institution bans and signage/ID-check obligations. [5]
Armenia18 [6] Prohibits sale of energy drinks to persons under 18; also bans vending-machine sales and restricts advertising. [7]
Azerbaijan18 [8] Sale of energy drinks to persons under 18 prohibited by sanitary norms; rules announced in 2019 and in force from 1 January 2020. [9]
Belarus18 [10] National ban on sales to minors effective 8 July 2021. [11]
Bulgaria18 [12] Parliament adopted amendments introducing a ban on the use, offering and sale of high-caffeine products (energy drinks) to children (under 18), via changes to the Child Protection Act in 2025. [13] [14]
Honduras18 [15] Prohibits sale and consumption of energy drinks to persons under 18 nationwide; also prohibits sales in schools, health and sports establishments; implementing regulation published by Secretaría de Desarrollo Económico (SDE). [16]
Hungary18 [17] Parliament adopted a national ban on sales to under-18s in 2025; enforcement applies in stores and delivery. [18]
Kazakhstan21 [19] National law sets 21+ minimum for energy drinks.
Kosovo18 [20] Draft law approved in principle on 5 December 2024; not yet in force pending final adoption/promulgation. [21] [22]
Kuwait16 [23] Ministerial Decision No. 558/2012 (Ministry of Commerce & Industry) prohibits sale/consumption of energy drinks to persons under 16; a subsequent ministerial guideline (Decision No. 470/2013) lists implementing details and labeling/retail requirements. [24]
Kyrgyzstan18 [25] National ban on sales to minors since 2017.
Latvia18 [26] Law prohibits sales to under-18s; also restricts retail placement and vending machines.
Lithuania18 [27] National ban effective 1 November 2014.
North Macedonia14 [28] Law on Trade, Article 24: retail sale of energy drinks prohibited to persons under 14; signage and age-verification duties specified. [29]
Norway16 [30] National regulation sets a 16+ minimum; in force from 1 January 2026; announced by the Government. [31]
Poland18 [32] In force since 1 January 2024; prohibits sales to under-18s and in schools/vending machines. [33]
Romania18 [34] National ban effective 15 March 2024. [35]
Russia18 [36] Federal ban (age verification rules approved). [37]
Turkey18 [38] National ban on sales to persons under 18; additional retail restrictions (schools, hospitals, etc.) apply under the communiqué. Some reports say that this ban is not being properly enforced. [39]
Uzbekistan18 [40] National ban on sales of energy drinks to minors since 2019; enforcement noted in official updates. [41]

Countries without a national age-of-sale law (examples)

CountryMinimum age (national law)Notes
AustraliaNone [2] No national age limit; mandatory advisory statements “not suitable for young children” under the Food Standards Code. [42]
CanadaNone [43] No national age-of-sale law; federal limits and cautionary labels (up to 180 mg caffeine per serving) apply to caffeinated energy drinks. [44]
FranceNone [45] No national age-of-sale rule; EU high-caffeine warning label applies. [46]
GermanyNone [47] No nationwide legal age limit as of 2025; Länder ministers urged examining a 16+ rule, and some retailers apply voluntary under-16 policies (e.g., Rossmann, Lidl). [48] [49] [50]
ItalyNone [51] No national age-of-sale rule; EU labeling applies.
SpainNone [52] No national age-of-sale rule; national food safety agency reiterates EU high-caffeine warning requirements.
SwedenNone; major retailers restrict to under-15sNo national legal age-of-sale restriction; an industry agreement (2009, revised 2022) recommends not selling energy drinks to persons under 15, widely applied by retailers. [53] Reporting confirms there is no statutory age limit while many stores use a 15-year policy voluntarily. [54]
United KingdomNone (national law); major retailers restrict to under-16s [55] UK law has no nationwide sales age; labels must carry “High caffeine content. Not recommended for children…” for drinks >150 mg/L caffeine. [56] [57] In September 2025, the UK government launched a 12-week consultation proposing a legal ban on sales of high-caffeine energy drinks (>150 mg/L) to under-16s in England. [58] [59]
United StatesNone (federal law) [2] No federal minimum age of sale; some local jurisdictions restrict marketing/sales in limited venues (e.g., Suffolk County, NY, county parks). [60]

Labelling

Across the European Union and the United Kingdom, beverages (other than tea/coffee-based drinks) containing more than 150 mg/L of caffeine must bear the statement: “High caffeine content. Not recommended for children or pregnant or breast-feeding women”, together with the caffeine amount per 100 mL, in the same field of vision as the product name. [1] [46]

See also

Notes

References

  1. 1 2 "Regulation (EU) No 1169/2011 of the European Parliament and of the Council — Annex III(4)". EUR-Lex. Official Journal of the European Union. 25 October 2011. Retrieved 1 September 2025.
  2. 1 2 3 "Spilling the Beans: How Much Caffeine is Too Much?". U.S. Food and Drug Administration. FDA. 28 August 2024. Retrieved 1 September 2025.
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  8. ""Enerji içkilərinə dair müvəqqəti sanitariya normaları və qaydaları"". e-qanun. Normative Acts of the Republic of Azerbaijan. January 2020. Retrieved 1 September 2025.
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  20. "Draft Law no. 08/L-312 — On the Prohibition of Consumption of Energy Drinks for Persons Under 18". Assembly of Kosovo. 26 June 2024. Retrieved 11 September 2025.
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  50. "Umfrage: Nur 2 von 14 Händlern setzen auf Jugendschutz". foodwatch (in German). 18 December 2015. Retrieved 11 September 2025.
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  56. "Energy drinks and children (evidence)". UK Parliament. House of Commons. 4 December 2018. Retrieved 1 September 2025.
  57. "Guidance for food business operators on food supplements containing caffeine". Food Standards Agency. FSA. 25 September 2024. Retrieved 1 September 2025.
  58. "Wes Streeting pushes forward with ban on high caffeine energy drinks for under-16s". Sky News. 3 September 2025. Retrieved 5 September 2025.
  59. "High-caffeine energy drinks to be banned for under-16s in England". ITV News. 2 September 2025. Retrieved 5 September 2025.
  60. "2013 Local Laws — Local Law 17-2013 (prohibiting sale/distribution of stimulant drinks to minors in county parks)". Suffolk County Legislature. Suffolk County (NY). 10 January 2014. Retrieved 1 September 2025.