Foodservice

AVA criticizes UK energy drink vending ban

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July 20, 2026

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The Vending & Automated Retail Association has criticized the U.K. Department of Health and Social Care's decision to ban the sale of high-caffeine energy drinks from vending machines, according to a press release, arguing the measure will cost the industry an estimated $58 million annually.

The association said the policy, which makes the person responsible for a vending machine's location liable for sales, inappropriately mirrors tobacco regulations despite the government's acknowledgment that evidence linking energy drinks to the cited health harm is not conclusive.

The AVA said the ban is overly broad because more than 82% of vending machines are located in workplaces, factories, warehouses, gyms and other sites that are generally inaccessible to children. The association noted the industry already follows voluntary restrictions limiting energy drink sales in locations frequently visited by children and argued that targeted measures, such as age-verification technology and location-based restrictions, would be more effective than a blanket prohibition.

AVA Chief Executive David Llewellyn said the decision will hurt businesses, threaten jobs and limit adult consumers' access to a legal product. The association's position is supported by the British Soft Drinks Association, which said its members do not market energy drinks to children younger than 16 and already label high-caffeine beverages as not recommended for children. Both organizations are urging the government to reconsider the ban and work with the industry on evidence-based alternatives that protect children without imposing disproportionate costs on vending operators.