The British government has begun a public consultation over plans to ban the sale of energy drinks to young people, as it grapples with some of Western Europe's worst child obesity rates.
Prime Minister Theresa May wants to prevent retailers from selling popular energy drinks, such as Red Bull, Monster and Relentless, to children because of their high levels of sugar and caffeine.
The British government estimates more than two-thirds of ten to 17-year-olds and a quarter of six to nine-year-olds consume the drinks, which are linked to a host of health and behaviour problems, from headaches to hyperactivity.
"Childhood obesity is one of the greatest health challenges this country faces," Mrs May said in a statement.
"With thousands of young people regularly consuming energy drinks, often because they are sold at cheaper prices than soft drinks, we will consult on banning the sale of energy drinks to children."
The plans were first announced in June, alongside a commitment to halve childhood obesity rates by 2030.
The 12-week consultation will ask whether the restrictions should apply to children under 16 or under 18 and if the law should be changed to prevent children from buying them in any situation.
The proposed legislation will prevent the sale of energy drinks that contain more than 150 milligrams of caffeine per litre to children.
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On average, non-diet energy drinks also contain 60% more calories and 65% more sugar than regular soft drinks, the department of health said.
Meanwhile, nearly a quarter of children in England are obese or overweight by the age of five, rising to one third by the time they leave primary school aged 11.
Public health advocates welcomed the plans but Tam Fry, of Action On Sugar, said it was "astounding that the government feels that a consultation is required."
"It has been told for years that these drinks are quite unsuitable for children even if they play a lot of sports.
"We need a government that leads rather than going cap-in-hand to the court of popular approval."
A consultant paediatrician at Temple Street Children's Hospital in Dublin has said she would support a move similar to the one proposed in the UK.
Speaking on RTÉ's Today with Miriam, Dr Sinead Murphy, said the drinks, which contain stimulants and have no nutritional value, have no place in a child's diet.
Dr Murphy said the sugar content in these drinks is really dangerous as well as caffeine which has more of an effect on children.
She said blood pressure is raised for six hours after consuming an energy drink which, she said, if the drinks are consumed regularly, will have secondary effects on the heart.
She said it was also damaging in terms of the psychological dependence on this "buzzy" feeling that they get from the drinks.
The Irish Beverage Council says energy drinks should not be treated any differently to tea, coffee and chocolate.
IBC director Colm Director has said energy drinks have been deemed safe after rigorous studies by regulatory authorities all over the world, included the Europe Food Safety Authority.
"They contain about the same amount of caffeine as a cup of coffee. The main contributors to daily caffeine intake in Ireland for all age groups are tea, coffee and chocolate. There is no reason to treat energy drinks differently to other caffeine sources."
