Publication - FOI/EIR release

Energy drinks correspondence: FOI release

Published: 6 February 2024
Directorate: Population Health Directorate
Topic: Public sector
FOI reference: 202300359356
Date received: 30 May 2023
Date responded: 22 June 2023

Information request and response under the Freedom of Information (Scotland) Act 2002.

Information requested

Any correspondence between the Scottish Government and any drinks companies relating to energy drinks.

Response

I enclose a copy of most of the information you asked for. As requested, I have included correspondence with drinks companies regarding energy drinks. Also included is correspondence from trade associations and public affairs representatives who have contacted us on behalf of drinks companies.

Responses from our 2019 consultation on ending the sale of energy drinks to children and young people are available on our consultation website. I have included an unpublished consultation response from AG Barr and LR Suntory.

Please find enclosed the following documents:

Email from Monster Energy Company with their consultation response and acknowledgement email from Scottish Government (February 2020). Please note that I have not included the attached pdf of the consultation response, as this can be accessed online.
Acknowledgement email from Scottish Government to Monster Energy (February 2020).
Email from LR Suntory with their consultation response (February 2020).
Email from British Soft Drinks Association (BSDA) with their consultation response (February 2020). Please note that I have not included the attached pdf of the consultation response, as this can be accessed online.
Acknowledgement email from Scottish Government to BSDA (February 2020).
Email from Energy Drinks Europe with their consultation response (January 2020). Please note that I have not included the attached pdf of the consultation response, as this can be accessed online.
Email from BSDA with attached media statement on energy drinks (February 2018).
Email from LR Suntory regarding energy drinks Business and Regulatory Impact Assessment (BRIA) meeting notes (January 2020).
Email with further information on consultation and BRIA from LR Suntory – (February 2020).
Energy Drinks BRIA response from LR Suntory (December 2019).
Email correspondence with AG Barr regarding energy drinks BRIA (February 2020).
Email from AG Barr with response to energy drinks BRIA meeting notes (December 2019).
Email from Scottish Government to external stakeholders regarding the 2019 consultation on ending the sale of energy drinks to children and young people (October 2019).
Correspondence reference 202000014688 - Letter from BSDA and Scottish Grocers’ Federation regarding consultation (February 2020).
Correspondence reference 202000014688 – Response to BSDA and Scottish Grocers’ Federation (February 2020).
Correspondence reference 202000012903 - email from BDB Pitmans LLP on behalf of Monster Energy requesting a Ministerial meeting (January 2020).
Correspondence reference 202000012903 – Response to BDB Pitmans LLP (January 2020).
Correspondence reference 202100140432 - BSDA letter to the then Minister for Public Health and Sport (January 2021).
Correspondence reference 202100140432 – response to BSDA letter from the then Minister for Public Health and Sport (January 2021).
Email from BSDA requesting an update on energy drinks (November 2020).
Email from BSDA requesting an update on energy drinks (August 2022).
Meeting request from BSDA (May 2021).
Meeting request from LR Suntory (March 2023).
Consultation reference ANON-J8JA-R1F9-F – Response from AG Barr p.l.c - energy drinks (February 2020).

While our aim is to provide information whenever possible, in this instance we are unable to provide some of the information you have requested because exemptions under sections 30(c) (effective conduct of public affairs) and s38(1)(b) (personal information) of FOISA applies to that information. The reasons why these exemptions apply are explained in Annex A.

About FOI

The Scottish Government is committed to publishing all information released in response to Freedom of Information requests. View all FOI responses at http://www.gov.scot/foi-responses.