This is a list of age restrictions on energy drinks by country. This list compares laws that set a minimum purchase age (or otherwise restrict sales) of energy drinks for minors.
In most jurisdictions there is no national age-of-sale law, however many Eastern European and Central Asian countries prohibit the sale of energy drinks to under-18s. In 2014, Lithuania became one of the first such jurisdictions to ban the sale of energy drinks to minors.
Many countries have adopted caffeine warning labels (e.g., under Regulation (EU) No 1169/2011) and voluntary retail policies to dissuade minors from purchasing energy drinks. Public-health bodies in several countries advise that high-caffeine drinks are not recommended for children.
In some countries, retailers apply a sales policy restricting the sale of energy drinks to minors, even though local laws do not prohibit their sale.
Countries with a national legal age-of-sale restriction Country Minimum age Notes 18 Sale of energy drinks to persons under 18 is prohibited. A further proposal in 2018 to ban sodas for persons under 18 was rejected due to pressure from companies and restaurant chains. 18 Prohibits sale of energy drinks to persons under 18; also bans vending-machine sales and restricts advertising. 18 Sale of energy drinks to persons under 18 prohibited by sanitary norms; rules announced in 2019 and in force from 1 January 2020. 18 National ban on sales to minors effective 8 July 2021. 18 Parliament adopted amendments introducing a ban on the use, offering, and sale of high-caffeine products (energy drinks) to children (under 18), via changes to the Child Protection Act in 2025. 18A nationwide ban on the sale of energy drinks to minors took effect on 1 June 2026. 18 Prohibits sale and consumption of energy drinks to persons under 18 nationwide; also prohibits sales in schools, health and sports establishments; implementing regulation published by Secretaría de Desarrollo Económico (SDE). It became the first Latin American country to implement the age restriction. 18 Parliament adopted a national ban on sales to under-18s in 2025; enforcement applies in stores and delivery. 21 National law sets 21+ minimum for energy drinks. It is the country with the highest age restriction for energy drinks in the world. 18 Draft law approved in principle on 5 December 2024; not yet in force pending final adoption/promulgation. 18 Ministerial Decision No. 558/2012 (Ministry of Commerce & Industry) prohibits sale/consumption of energy drinks to persons under 16; a subsequent ministerial guideline (Decision No. 470/2013) lists implementing details and labeling/retail requirements. On 24 December 2025, the age limit was raised to 18 via a ministerial decree by the Minister of Health, Ahmad Abdulwahab Al-Awadhi. The Ministry of Health cited this age change as part of greater endeavors to “protect public health, particularly among youth”. It became the first Middle Eastern and Muslim-majority country in the world to implement age restrictions on energy drinks. 18 National ban on sales to minors since 2017. 18 Law prohibits sales to under-18s; also restricts retail placement and vending machines. 18 National ban effective 1 November 2014. It is the first country in the world to implement a minimum age for buying energy drinks. 14 Law on Trade, Article 24: retail sale of energy drinks prohibited to persons under 14; signage and age-verification duties specified. It became the first country to have the lowest age restriction for energy drinks. 16 In force since 1 January 2026. It is prohibited to sell energy drinks to persons under the age of 16. This applies to shops, canteens, vending machines, festivals and sporting events. When purchasing online, age must be checked before the item is delivered. 18 In force since 1 January 2024; prohibits sales to under-18s and in schools/vending machines. 18 National ban effective 15 March 2024. 18 Federal ban effective 1 September 2024 (age verification rules approved). 18 National ban on sales to persons under 18; additional retail restrictions (schools, hospitals, etc.) apply under the communiqué. It became the second Middle Eastern country to implement an age restriction. Some reports say that this ban is not being properly enforced. 18 National ban on sales of energy drinks to minors since 2019; enforcement noted in official updates.
Countries without a national age-of-sale law (examples) Country Minimum age (national law) Notes None No national age limit; mandatory advisory statements "not suitable for young children" under the Food Standards Code. None No national age-of-sale law; federal limits and cautionary labels (up to 180 mg caffeine per serving) apply to caffeinated energy drinks. None (bill pending) No current legal age-of-sale restriction. In November 2024, the Czech government endorsed a cross-party bill to ban the sale of energy drinks to persons under 15, with restrictions on vending machines, school premises, and advertising directed at children. The bill was still under parliamentary consideration as of early 2025. None; some retailers restrict to individuals under 16 No national legal age-of-sale restriction. The Danish Food Administration (Fødevarestyrelsen) advises against children consuming energy drinks. Lidl Denmark introduced a voluntary 16+ policy in 2018, and some independent retailers have adopted similar restrictions. No legislation has been introduced. None; retailers apply voluntary 16+ or 18+ limits No national legal age-of-sale restriction. The Estonian Traders' Association proposed a voluntary 16+ sales restriction in 2016. Major retailers apply varying age limits (16+ or 18+) at the register, but enforcement is inconsistent and there is no statutory basis. None; many retailers restrict to individuals under 15 No national legal age-of-sale restriction. The Finnish Institute for Health and Welfare (THL) recommends that energy drinks not be sold to persons under 15. Many individual shopkeepers, particularly in the K-Group and S-Group chains, apply a voluntary 15+ policy, though enforcement varies. None No national age-of-sale rule; EU high-caffeine warning label applies. None No nationwide legal age limit as of 2025; Länder ministers urged examining a 16+ rule, and some retailers apply voluntary under-16 policies (e.g., Rossmann, Lidl). None No national age-of-sale rule; EU labeling applies. None; Aldi and Lidl restrict to individuals under 14 No national legal age-of-sale restriction. Since 2018, Aldi and Lidl Netherlands have applied a voluntary 14+ age limit with ID checks at the register. In 2019, a Foodwatch campaign prompted ten major supermarket chains (including Albert Heijn, Jumbo, and Coop) to declare openness to an 18+ limit, but only if applied uniformly across all retailers. No government legislation has followed. None (ban for individuals under 16 or 18 announced in February 2026, not yet enacted) (18 in Galicia and 16 in Balearic Islands) No national age-of-sale rule as of June 2026; EU labeling applies. In February 2026, the Ministry of Social Rights announced a ban on sales to those under 16 (and under 18 for drinks exceeding 32 mg caffeine per 100 mL), with public consultation underway. The autonomous community of Galicia enacted its own bans on consumption by minors in public spaces and on sales to minors; these became effective on March 2026.A ban in the Balearic Islands became effective by 12 August 2026. None; major retailers restrict to individuals under 15 No national legal age-of-sale restriction; an industry agreement (2009, revised 2022) recommends not selling energy drinks to persons under 15, widely applied by retailers. Reporting confirms there is no statutory age limit while many stores use a 15-year policy voluntarily. None (national law); major retailers restrict to individuals under 16 (ban announced to be set to 16 by April 2027 in England) UK law has no nationwide sales age; labels must carry "High caffeine content. Not recommended for children…" for drinks >150 mg/L caffeine. In September 2025, the UK government launched a 12-week consultation proposing a legal ban on sales of high-caffeine energy drinks (>150 mg/L) to those under 16 in England, which would come into force by April 2027. None (federal law) No federal minimum age of sale; some local jurisdictions restrict marketing/sales in limited venues (e.g., Suffolk County, NY, county parks).
Labelling Across the European Union and the United Kingdom, beverages (other than tea/coffee-based drinks) containing more than 150 mg/L of caffeine must bear the statement: "High caffeine content. Not recommended for children or pregnant or breast-feeding women", together with the caffeine amount per 100 mL, in the same field of vision as the product name.
See also Legal drinking age Energy drink List of energy drinks Caffeine Public health law Food safety
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