Caffeine in the Crosshairs: How Countries Are Regulating Energy Drinks

Energy drinks – packed with caffeine and other stimulants – have surged in popularity worldwide. This has put caffeine in the crosshairs of regulators as concerns grow about health effects, especially for young consumers. Around the globe, governments are adopting a patchwork of strategies to control caffeine levels, mandate warnings, and even restrict sales of energy drinks. This article breaks down how different countries are tackling the energy drink question — from warning labels to outright bans — and highlights some of the more surprising rules around the world. Whether you’re a curious consumer or a compliance pro, you’ll get a clear, no-nonsense look at how caffeine in energy drinks is being regulated today.

A complete and filterable report with global regulations on caffeine in energy drinks — including content limits, labeling requirements, age restrictions, and country-specific rules — is available to paid users of the SGS Digicomply Global Ingredient Monitor. Feel free to explore the Global Ingredient Monitor demo and try this tool in action.

How is caffeine regulated in energy drinks?

There’s no single global rule. Instead, countries take different approaches: 

United States: Mostly hands-off

In the U.S., the FDA doesn’t impose a formal caffeine limit on energy drinks. Most contain between 150–300 mg per can — significantly more than soda. Products are typically classified as either beverages or dietary supplements, each falling under different sets of rules.

While the FDA has approved added caffeine as “Generally Recognized as Safe” (GRAS) in cola-type sodas up to 0.02% (about 71 mg per 12 oz), this limit doesn’t apply to energy drinks. There’s no fixed legal maximum, but manufacturers are responsible for ensuring product safety. If a drink contains excessive caffeine and poses a health risk, the FDA can intervene — and has done so in the past, especially with powdered or highly concentrated caffeine products.

There’s also no federal requirement to list the exact caffeine content on beverage labels, although many brands choose to do so voluntarily. For dietary supplements, labeling must include caffeine in the ingredient list, but not necessarily its exact quantity.

Finally, there’s no age restriction at the federal level — teens can buy energy drinks just like soda. Despite growing pressure from health experts to impose underage sales bans, U.S. regulators currently rely on voluntary industry practices and consumer education rather than hard rules.

European Union: Label it loud, restrict it local

The EU doesn’t set a legal caffeine limit for energy drinks, but it requires clear labeling. Under Regulation (EU) No 1169/2011, any drink with more than 150 mg of caffeine per liter must carry a warning:
“High caffeine content. Not recommended for children or pregnant or breast-feeding women.”

The label must also include the exact caffeine amount per 100 mL, typically shown on the front of the can.

There’s no EU-wide limit on caffeine content itself — most energy drinks contain around 320 mg/L, which is industry standard. However, the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) recommends a maximum of 400 mg/day for healthy adults and 3 mg/kg body weight for adolescents.

When it comes to restrictions, EU member states apply their own national rules:

• Lithuania, Latvia, Poland: ban sales of energy drinks (defined by high caffeine and/or taurine) to anyone under 18. In Poland, the law also prohibits sales in schools and vending machines, with fines for violations.

• Hungary: imposes a "public health tax" on high-caffeine beverages to discourage consumption.

• France, Italy, Sweden: no national bans, but energy drinks are often restricted in schools. France and Italy require strong warning labels, and Sweden limits sales to youth in some municipalities.

• UK (post-Brexit): there’s no legal age limit, but nearly all major retailers voluntarily prohibit sales to under-16s. Most UK energy drinks include both the EU-style warning and an additional “not recommended for children under 16” notice.

The EU’s approach combines mandatory transparency with country-level discretion. The result is a mixed map: in one country, a teenager can buy a high-caffeine drink freely; in another, they’ll be asked for ID.

China: Capped and cautious

China enforces one of the strictest caffeine caps globally — just 150 mg per liter in beverages, under national food safety standards. That’s less than half the caffeine content of many Western energy drinks, leading several brands to reformulate or face rejection at the border.

Energy drinks are classified as ordinary beverages, which means they must comply with national ingredient limits. Caffeine is allowed, but only within that 150 mg/L cap — and products exceeding it are regularly blocked by customs, even if compliant in other markets like the EU or U.S.

There’s no legal requirement to list caffeine content on labels, though it's often included voluntarily. General health warnings like “not suitable for children or pregnant women” are common, especially on domestic brands.

While there is no national age restriction, many schools ban sales of energy drinks on campus. And because caffeine is considered a controlled substance in its pure form, authorities monitor imports closely and reject products that exceed approved caffeine levels or contain unregistered ingredients.

China’s approach is clear: tightly control caffeine exposure through strict limits and firm border enforcement — even for big global brands.

Other countries with standout rules

Some countries have taken especially bold or unique approaches to regulating energy drinks:

• Uruguay once went as far as banning energy drinks entirely, citing public health concerns.

• Gulf States like Saudi Arabia prohibit advertising, ban sales in schools and gyms, require bilingual warning labels, and impose a 100% excise tax.

• Canada caps caffeine per serving (180 mg), mandates clear warnings, and limits how many servings can be consumed per day.

• Australia & New Zealand set strict caffeine limits (320 mg/L) and package size restrictions, but don’t restrict age-based sales.

• Nordic and Baltic countries — including Lithuania, Latvia, and Sweden — have led with under-18 sales bans, school restrictions, and advertising controls, especially around youth.

These examples show how national priorities — from public health to consumer transparency — shape the global patchwork of caffeine regulation.

Final sip

Caffeine in energy drinks is no longer flying under the radar. As consumption rises — particularly among teens — countries are taking notice. While some rely on voluntary guidelines and industry self-regulation, others are imposing hard limits, warning labels, age bans, and taxes to curb potential health risks.

The result is a fragmented global landscape: a drink that’s legal and unregulated in one country might be banned or restricted in another. And while there's no universal consensus yet, the trajectory is clear — more oversight, tighter controls, and growing pressure to treat caffeine not just as an ingredient, but as a public health issue.

For companies and consumers alike, staying ahead means staying informed — because in the world of energy drinks, the rules are changing fast.