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Are energy drinks and pre-workouts restricted for children in South Africa?

Healthnews24 editorial deskUpdated 2 min read
Answer first

Under a 2012 labelling amendment, South African energy drinks must carry label warnings that they are not recommended for children under 12, pregnant or breastfeeding women and caffeine-sensitive people, plus a high-caffeine message above 150 mg per litre; check the current label for updates. We found no statutory purchase age limit. Pre-workout powders are not covered the same way, so teenagers should avoid them.

  • South African formulated caffeinated beverages must say 'not recommended for children under 12, pregnant or breastfeeding women' (2012 amendment, compliance by March 2013).
  • Drinks above 150 mg caffeine per litre must carry a high-caffeine message; there is no legal caffeine cap.
  • Published pre-workout caffeine doses in SA: 150 mg (Biogen Premium, USN XTS Hyperdrive) and 300 mg (USN Qhush Platinum Black).
  • Sports-nutrition reviews advise under-18s to avoid high-dose stimulant products; SAIDS recommends against performance supplements under 18.

What does South African law say about energy drinks?

A 2012 amendment to the soft drinks regulations, reported by IOL at the time, introduced rules for "formulated caffeinated beverages". Manufacturers and importers had until March 2013 to comply. The main requirements:

  • A "high caffeine content" message on the front panel for drinks above 150 mg of caffeine per litre
  • Caffeine declared per serving and per 100 ml
  • A statement that the drink is not recommended for children under 12, pregnant or breastfeeding women, or people sensitive to caffeine

There is no legal cap on caffeine content. We could not locate a consolidated current text, so check with the Department of Health or the product's label for the latest wording. Our research found no statutory minimum age to buy an energy drink; individual retailers and schools may set their own policies.

Are pre-workouts treated the same way?

Not in the same way. Pre-workout powders are sold either as foodstuffs or as Category D products with a "not evaluated by SAHPRA" statement, and the retailer pages we read often do not show caffeine per serving. Published figures include 150 mg for Biogen Premium Pre-Workout and USN XTS Hyperdrive and 300 mg for USN Qhush Platinum Black. As of October 2026, caffeine disclosure was patchy across brands (see what a proprietary blend hides).

How much caffeine is reasonable for a teenager?

The evidence-based dose of 3-6 mg/kg (ISSN) comes from adult studies and is not a recommendation for teenagers. Applied to a 50 kg teenager it would mean 150-300 mg, which is a lot of stimulant for a growing body. Side effects rise with dose: jitteriness, raised heart rate, anxiety, stomach upset and disturbed sleep. Sports-nutrition reviews advise under-18s to avoid high-dose stimulant products, and SAIDS recommends against performance supplements for under-18s.

A 2026 South African Medical Journal correspondence from the University of Cape Town clinical pharmacology group raised concerns about toxicity with caffeine-containing pre-workouts; only the title was available to us, so we quote no data.

What about pregnancy?

Retail pages for caffeinated products note that more than 200 mg of caffeine a day is not recommended in pregnancy. Pregnant women should follow their obstetrician's advice and count all sources.

What should parents do?

  • Treat energy drinks and pre-workouts as unnecessary for school sport. Water, a balanced meal and sleep come first.
  • Check the label for caffeine per serving and add up coffee, cola, tea and chocolate too.
  • Avoid pre-workouts and fat burners for under-18s entirely.
  • If a child shows palpitations, chest pain, tremor or vomiting after a caffeinated product, seek medical help.

Read can teenagers take pre-workout, is pre-workout safe and supplements: what parents should know.

Sources

  1. IOL (26 Apr 2012): Energy drinks must now carry warnings
  2. Guest et al. (2021) ISSN position stand: caffeine and exercise performance. JISSN
  3. SAIDS Supplements Leaflet 2020
  4. SAMJ (2026) correspondence: caffeine-containing pre-workout supplements and toxicity (UCT clinical pharmacology)

Educational information only, not medical advice. Speak to a doctor, pharmacist or registered dietitian before using supplements if you are pregnant or breastfeeding, under 18, taking medication, or living with kidney, liver or heart disease.

Cite this page: Healthnews24, “Are energy drinks and pre-workouts restricted for children in South Africa?”, updated 27 October 2026, https://www.healthnews24.co.za/answers/are-energy-drinks-regulated-for-children-south-africa/. Plain-text version: /answers/are-energy-drinks-regulated-for-children-south-africa.md