A Lancashire supermarket chain has introduced a Think 25 policy on energy drinks after research linked the high caffeine products to health risks in young people.
Booths, which has its headquarters in Preston and has branches in Garstang, Longton, Penwortham and Fulwood, has banned the sale of energy drinks to customers who look under 25 at the checkout.
Young people wishing to buy the drinks must produce identification, as they would with alcohol, after researchers warned that youngsters who mix alcohol with energy drinks risk heart palpitations and disturbed sleep, and a coroner’s ruling that an American teenager’s death was due to “cardiac arrhythmia due to caffeine toxicity”.
David Benson, retail operations director for Booths, said: “Due to their high caffeine content, and the fact they are labelled ‘not suitable for children’ customers must be 18, or over, to purchase these products. Operating in a socially-responsible way is of the utmost importance to Booths and we believe these measures will help to ensure the health and safety of children in our communities.”
Comments