Health campaigners and teachers in the UK have reportedly urged the government to raise the age limit for the sale of energy drinks to 18.

The Children’s Food Campaign (CFC), the British Dietetic Association and the Action on Sugar campaign group suggested that an under-18 ban would help educational institutions combat behavioural issues linked to energy drinks consumption.

In August this year, the UK Government announced that it will ban the sale of energy drinks to children in England due to growing concerns over the impact of the heavily caffeinated and sugary drinks on young people’s health.

However, the government did not determine whether the purchasing restrictions will apply at the age of 16 or 18.

The suggestion was raised following the recent announcement of a consultation process on the issue. If the ban were to go ahead, brands such as Red Bull and Monster Energy would be affected.

“Hard-working teachers have a tough enough job without having to manage youngsters’ health and behavioural effects.”

The Children’s Food Campaign’s Barbara Crowther said: “These high-caffeine fizzy drinks are not energising pupils in the classroom, it’s actually the opposite.

“Hard-working teachers have a tough enough job without having to manage youngsters’ health and behavioural effects.

“We are calling on the government to ban all sales to under-18s, which will send the clearest message that these drinks, as it already says on the label, are just not suitable for children.”

The results of an online survey conducted by the CFC indicated that 97% of teachers have expressed their support for banning sales of energy drinks to children and young people, while 64% noted that their schools neither sold nor allowed the consumption of the drinks on site.

In some cases, energy drinks are known to cause head and stomach aches, depression and sleep problems.