Restricting the sale of energy drinks for under 16-year-olds is a quick headline that does not reflect the long-standing evidence and effective local regulatory arrangements designed to inform Australians.   In Australia, energy drinks are strictly regulated under Standard 2.6.4 of the Australia New Zealand Food Standards Code. The Code sets a maximum caffeine level of 80mg per 250mL – comparable to […]

Friday, 26 June 2026  A national Extended Producer Responsibility framework is critical to improving the sustainability of Australia’s packaging industry, creating nationally consistent rules across sectors, driving improved packaging design, and increasing resource recovery.  Appearing at a public hearing of the Senate Inquiry into the Extended Producer Responsibility Scheme for Packaging (No Time to Waste) Bill 2026 this morning, the Australian Beverages Council […]

19 June 2026   Australian Beverages Council Limited (ABCL) members have reduced sugar from total drinks sold by more than 20% since 2015, avoiding more than 255,552 tonnes of sugar consumption. The findings come from the final report into the Sugar Reduction Pledge.  Launched in 2018, the Pledge saw member companies (Asahi Beverages, Coca-Cola Europacific Partners, Coca-Cola Australia and PepsiCo), representing […]

Tuesday, 9 June 2026  The Australian Beverages Council Limited (ABCL) today announced the relaunch of DrinkFacts, the consumer information platform designed to provide Australians with clear, evidence-based information about non-alcoholic beverages providing insights into nutrition, ingredients, sustainability and industry initiatives.  The refreshed website delivers accessible, science-based content to help consumers better understand the beverages they enjoy and make informed choices that suit their individual lifestyles and […]

29 May 2026 Beverage manufacturers are actively engaged in consultation as government seeks to mandate the Health Star Rating (HSR), an important nutrition tool for consumers.   A range of issues were discussed in a member webinar hosted today by the Australian Beverages Council Ltd (ABCL), which provided members with an opportunity to speak directly with Food Standards Australia […]

Thursday, 28 May 2026 Claims that Australia’s public health challenges can be fixed by taxing sugar-sweetened beverages are simplistic and ignore the evidence-base from Australian sales and consumption data over almost three decades. CEO of the Australian Beverages Council, Mr Geoff Parker, said it is disappointing that in calling for a tax, the AMA and […]