How we're solving the UK's new energy drink challenge

The UK government’s ban on the sale of high-caffeine energy drinks to under-16s marks a pivotal moment for retailers and brands alike. For unattended retail in particular, it raises a simple but important question: how do you sell responsibly when there’s no member of staff at the point of sale?

Compliance, built in

Bright.Blue machines include automatic age verification at the point of purchase. Age checks happen at the machine — quick, simple and compliant — so age-restricted products can only be sold to eligible customers. Privacy is designed in from the start.

Why connected retail helps

Because every Bright.Blue unit is connected, compliance rules can be applied and updated centrally across an entire estate. When regulations change, the platform changes with them — without sending a person to every location.

The result is unattended retail that brands and venues can trust: convenient for shoppers, accountable for operators, and compliant by design.