Gavin Grey: UK correspondent on the UK Government looking into banning energy drinks for under-16s

The UK Government is planning a new law in England to stop anyone under the age of 16 buying energy drinks from supermarkets, restaurants, cafes, vending machines and other retailers.

Up to one third of UK children are thought to consume these types of drinks every week, despite protective measures existing in some stores.

UK correspondent Gavin Grey says experts have linked energy drinks to headaches, sleep deprivation, heart problems and seizures - and concerns have been raised.

LISTEN ABOVE

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Episode Transcript

Speaker 1 (00:00):
Gavin Gray seven rather seven Gvin Gray are UK correspondents
with us Elogevin, Hi there, okay, so you bend the
energy drinks for the kids.

Speaker 2 (00:09):
Yes, the government is at least planning to do this
and it's going out for consultation, but I think it's
likely to be nodded through. There is huge concern that
has been huge concern about these high energy drinks such
as Red Bull, Monster and Prime. Many supermarkets have introduced
a voluntary ban already, but up to a third of
children in the UK are thought to consume these types

(00:30):
of drinks every week now. Some popular drinks contain more
caffeine than two cups of coffee, and the TV chef
Jamie Oliver has repeatedly been warning about the dangers and
disruption that energy drinks can cause. He said children are
going into school bouncing off the walls having had energy
drinks for breakfast. He said, we're talking about three or

(00:50):
four shots of espresso in one of these things, and
loads of sugar, so it's an absolute nightmare. He's posted.
And we do know excessive consumption is linked to headaches
and sleep problems. Too much caffeine can cause a rapid
heart rate a normal heart rhythms and seizures. But this
is the first time the government stepped in and they
really do think that banning anyone under the age of

(01:11):
sixteen from mind these drinks is the first step.

Speaker 1 (01:13):
How do they stop them buying them from vending machines?

Speaker 2 (01:15):
Though, yeah, that's going to be the thing, I think obviously.
The problem is trying to work out where children are
buying them or where they might be able to access them,
and then banning the vending machines from those areas. But yeah,
it's pretty true. It's going to be very, very difficult
to police.

Speaker 1 (01:32):
Yeah, now what is this? Chep who writes Father Ted
actually said.

Speaker 2 (01:37):
Well, this is a story that's causing major actions here
in the UK, and it would be almost like a
scene out of one of his beloved productions. So Ted
Father Ted co creator Graham Linehan had been arrested a
Heater airport, he says, by five armed police officers after
he stepped off a plane. As I said, famous for

(01:57):
co creating Father Ted, the It Crowd Black books are
well known comedia, comedy and writer, and he said that
he had been arriving on this flight from the US
and said in an article that officials became concerned for
his health after taking his blood pressure and then took
him to hospital. Anyway, he was all right police. They're

(02:17):
only saying a man in his fifties was arrested and
this looks like an article that he wrote, or some
posts rather on x that he wrote about his views
challenging trans identified males in a female only space. The
first post from his feed called it a violent abusive
act for a trans identified male to be in a

(02:39):
female only space. He suggested make a seeing call the
cops in if all us fellows punch him in the balls,
was his comment there, and this led to people saying
this is a hate speech, this is a hate crime,
and a calling for him to be prosecuted. Well, the
police have said now that he's being looked at as
it were, and well potentially facing a separate charge of

(03:02):
harassment due to appear in court tomorrow. He has received
a lot of support though, both from opposition MPs but
also JK. Rowling stepped into it, claiming that his arrest
was suggested the UK is now a totalitarian.

Speaker 1 (03:19):
State now, jeez, I'll tell you what. Getting support from
New Zealand as well by the looks of things just
really quickly. Why are all these people in AfD dying?

Speaker 2 (03:28):
Yeah, very interesting about this because there are elections in
a very large northwestern state in Germany coming up and
the AfD, the Alternative for Right, the alternative for Deutschlan,
that is, the far right party, is putting forward a
number of candidates really hopes to do well. But it

(03:48):
is evidence that six candidates have died in recent weeks. Now.
The police are saying there is no evidence of any
foul play, but of course social media has gone into
absolute overspin here about this, and there are claims and
counterclaims about what's been going on. Elon Trust's tusk As
Elon musk Rama has now intervened as well, saying to Germans,

(04:11):
either Germany votes AfD or it's the end of Germany.
So yeah, feelings running high about all of this.

Speaker 1 (04:18):
Wow, Okaykevin, thanks very much, appreciate it. Givin Gray, UK,
corresponding for more from Hither Duplessy Allen Drive.

Speaker 2 (04:24):
Listen live to news talks it'd be from four pm weekdays,
or follow the podcast on iHeartRadio