End of energy drinks for children: Local authorities introduce age limit

A local grocery store is now setting a clear boundary. From today, you must be at least 16 years old to buy energy drinks.

There is no actual Danish legislation on the minimum age required to purchase energy drinks in Denmark. However, in 2023, Health Minister Sofie Løhde asked the health ministry to investigate Norwegian experiences and thoughts on a ban.

When you step into a grocery store, it’s hard not to notice the vibrant cans lined up like neon-tempting distractions.

Red Bull, Monster, Faxe Kondi Booster, and CULT are just a few examples of energy drinks that catch the eye.

For many young people, it has become a daily habit to grab one of these fizzy beverages.

This trend is clearly visible at Brugsen Gl. Rye, where staff increasingly observe very young children entering to buy caffeine-rich drinks.

“We all know that when children or young people see something that looks exciting or follows certain TikTok trends, they get inspired and tempted to try it. And we’re seeing more and more that energy drinks are popular among the kids and teens who come here. It’s just not right,” says Cisse Vollund Kammersgaard, deputy manager at Brugsen Gl. Rye.

But now, that’s changing.

From today, the local store has decided that energy drinks cannot be sold to children and young people under 16.

Brugsen Gammel Rye announced on Facebook that they will no longer sell energy drinks to children and young people under 16.

---

**A young employee felt sick over the incident**

The decision follows a recent episode that sparked concern among both staff and management.

“We had an incident where a couple of kids around ten years old came in and wanted to buy energy drinks. Then my young employee asked, ‘What should I do?’ He simply thought it was wrong,” says Cisse Vollund Kammersgaard.

She told the employee that, in principle, he could sell the drinks since there is no age restriction.

However, she urged him to inform the children about the consequences—and that energy drinks are not recommended for kids.

The young employee felt sick over the incident, and since the store often sees very young children trying to buy energy drinks, it led to the decision to introduce an age limit of 16.

> *“We’re talking about ten-year-olds here. And you hear so much about how unhealthy these drinks can be for children. Plus, the cans explicitly state that they are not recommended for children or pregnant women. It just makes me sick—even as a mother—to think we’re selling them to other kids.”*

> **Cisse Vollund Kammersgaard, deputy manager at Brugsen Gl. Rye**

The deputy manager would also like the government to enforce an age restriction.

But if authorities have decided that a ban isn’t necessary, why can’t you simply refuse to sell them with a clear conscience?

“It’s just as much about our staff. If a young employee here sells an energy drink to a ten-year-old, and the parents are unhappy about it, they might blame the store—even though it’s ultimately the parents’ responsibility.”

“That’s why we had to act now,” says Cisse Vollund Kammersgaard.

Currently, several other European countries, including Poland, Estonia, and Latvia, have bans on selling energy drinks to children.

---

**Not the first to introduce an age limit**

The question of whether it’s wrong to sell energy drinks has been debated in the media several times.

Back in 2018, the grocery chain Lidl became the first in Denmark to introduce a 16-year age limit for energy drink sales.

“Energy drinks are not intended for children and should therefore not be sold to them. Sales have steadily increased since they were introduced 15-20 years ago, and consumption among children and teens remains worryingly high,” says Lidl’s press chief, Thomas Sejersen.

That’s why employees were instructed to ask for ID if they saw children or young people purchasing energy drinks.

However, in May 2025, the chain decided to ease the age restrictions on energy drink sales.

Warning: This article was translated by a Large Language Model, in case of doubt, you can always visit the original source.