ASDA will ban the sale of high-caffeine drinks to children following a campaign by Lewes MP Maria Caulfield.

The chain will become the first of the "big four" supermarkets to respond to health concerns around brands like Monster, Red Bull and Relentless.

ASDA’s new policy will mean under-sixteens will be forbidden from buying 84 products from Monday 5th March, in 646 stores across the UK. 

Maria Caulfield has reacted with delight.

The Lewes MP has spoken up on the dangers of energy drinks in recent months following the suicide of her constituent Justin Bartholomew whose family believe his consumption of around 15 cans a day heightened his anxiety.

Ms Caulfield raised the issue in Parliament during Health Questions and most recently directly with the Prime Minister during PMQs.

Today she said: "I am delighted that ASDA has recognised the dangers that energy drinks, extremely high in sugar and caffeine, pose to children.

"The tragic case of Justin Bartholomew in my constituency highlights the dangers that they pose in high quantities to adults.

"I and many others believe that they pose a risk to the physical and mental wellbeing of children and are calling on all supermarkets to introduce similar bans.”

She said she had worked with Jamie Oliver and his team who are also applying pressure to the government on the issue following the celebrity chef's successes with school dinners.

Earlier this month Waitrose became the first supermarket to promise age-restrictions on energy drinks, which will also come in in MArch.

Ms Caulfield added: "This important step by ASDA will really highlight the issue and I hope that it will encourage other major retailers to also ban the sale of energy drinks to under 16s.”

Andrew Murray, Asda’s Chief Customer Officer said: "We take our responsibilities as a retailer seriously and work hard to ensure we get the balance right between offering choice and doing the right thing.

"We have listened to our customers and want to take a leading position in this area to support parents and teachers in limiting young peoples’ access to high caffeine drinks.”

The restrictions will apply to "high caffeine" products, which have a caffeine content of more than 15mg per 100ml.

One 330ml can of Red Bull, for instance, contains more than three times the caffeine in a can of Coca-Cola.