My Lords, we are taking decisive action on obesity, easing the strain on our NHS and creating the healthiest generation of children ever. As part of this, we will fulfil our commitment to ban the sale of high-caffeine energy drinks to children aged under 16, introducing the ban within this Parliament. Our consultation has closed. We are analysing the responses and will set out further information on our timelines in due course.
My Lords, the Government promised to ban the sale of energy drinks in this Session. The consultation has ended but we have not seen the results yet. When will the responses be published and when will the Government publish the regulations? Will the ban extend to all under-18s and all retailers, including vending machines and schools? There is still time to pass the regulations before Prorogation. Will the Government get on with it? Otherwise, it will be a promise made but a promise broken.
I hear the noble Baroness’s counsel but, as I said, we have committed to introduce the ban within this Parliament, as the Secretary of State said. He also said ideally sooner, if possible. I can confirm that all sellers, retailers and businesses of all sizes in England, including in-store and online sales, should be in scope of the ban.
My Lords, in addition to the harms of energy drinks, the 156 cans of fizzy drink that the average child consumes in the UK each year can and do contribute to higher rates of childhood obesity and dental problems. With that in mind, will my noble friend the Minister commend the work of —would you believe—Southwark Council, which introduced the Fizz Free February public health programme in 2018, which has now been taken up in 25 other areas and aims to significantly reduce the consumption of fizzy drinks among children and young adults? Will she also explore ways in which Fizz Free February can be supported and introduced more widely across the country?
I am very pleased to commend this initiative by Southwark Council. It was developed by the council’s public health team and is a good example of what local action can do. My noble friend talked about the extension of this initiative across the country. I very much support that. What struck me, having looked online at Fizz Free February, was the importance of the information that reminded us that more five to nine year-olds are hospitalised due to issues with their teeth than anything else. That is a very sobering thought.
My Lords, I declare an interest: my wife and I have constant battles with our children over the downsides of energy drinks and caffeine. Energy drinks can lead to type 1 diabetes. What processes and programmes are being undertaken to ensure that schools, in particular high schools, are part of this process in educating students? Once they are out of the door it is very much a decision that they make themselves. I also support the noble Baroness, Lady Walmsley, in that every outlet should be part of this regulation.
I agree on that last point, not least because that makes a level playing field, but it is also the right thing if we are to make that ban. The noble Lord describes a battle that I am sure goes on in many households. Schools are crucial. The incentive for schools is that children and young people will be much better placed to learn. One of the most disturbing things about this, and a message which we need to continue to get across, is that more headaches, difficulty with concentration and greater anxiety are all potential consequences of energy drinks. We work very closely with schools to ensure that the message gets through.
My Lords, one of the real successes of the previous Labour Government’s Sure Start programme was teaching families about healthy diet and how to prevent obesity. Can my noble friend the Minister assure me that the new family hubs will take an equally robust approach?
I can certainly confirm that to my noble friend. The new Best Start in Life hubs will take the best from previous programmes, including Sure Start. We are providing information through an online service that has had 4.5 million hits so far, and we are working closely with the Department for Education on that. But yes, we will be taking the best of Sure Start.
My Lords, when a Government restrict the sale of products to some but not all customers for whatever reason, it is essential to pre-empt the effects on businesses that will be at the sharp end of enforcing this ban, especially corner shops and small retailers. What engagement have the Government had with small retailers, especially small corner shops, some of which do not always feel represented by the Association of Convenience Stores, to understand their concerns over violence or abuse when they ask for ID from customers who may appear to be underage?
As we discussed on the Tobacco and Vapes Bill in this Chamber, the whole issue of age verification is crucial. I feel that businesses are used to seeking age verification. What matters is that they feel empowered to ask for it and that staff are trained. That is why we are indeed working with businesses in the way the noble Lord says. Many of them responded to the consultation and we are very pleased to have their voice in that.
My Lords, does the Minister agree with me—working, as I do, with children as a teacher—that there is a certain irony in banning sports drinks for sale to children yet allowing those drinks to sponsor sports teams?
I understand the noble Lord’s point. We are focusing on those energy drinks that contain 150 milligrams of caffeine per litre as the way of making the greatest impact to children aged under 16. When I think that over 100,000 children aged 11 to 15 consume at least one high caffeine energy drink per day, I believe that that is the right thing to do, as some of those drinks are equivalent to four cans of Coke or two espresso shots. That is how seriously we need to take this. I hear his point about going further, but it is important that we focus on the absolute immediate.
The Government introduced voluntary guidelines for manufacturers to reduce salt and sugar in baby food and milk food products for ages up to 36 months. How has that gone? Will they introduce statutory guidelines after the first 18 months? Have companies complied with the guidelines?