Spain to ban sale of energy drinks to under-16s
Spain’s Ministry of Social Rights and Consumer Affairs has announced a new national law that will ban the sale of energy drinks to anyone under 16, in a major move aimed at protecting young people from the health risks linked to high caffeine intake.
Minister Pablo Bustinduy confirmed the decision today (Wednesday), saying the legislation is designed to curb the growing consumption of stimulant drinks among teenagers and to prevent long-term cardiovascular and nervous-system issues.
The upcoming law goes further for older teenagers: energy drinks containing more than 32mg of caffeine per 100ml will face additional restrictions for under-18s, targeting the strongest products on the market.
The move comes with overwhelming public support. According to Spain’s Food Safety and Nutrition Agency (AESAN), 90% of the population backs the ban, including 88% of young adults aged 18–35.
The Spanish government’s initiative seeks to unify rules already emerging across different regions. Galicia became the first autonomous community to act in January, banning the sale of energy drinks to under-18s and introducing fines of up to €15,000. Asturias is progressing with a similar age-16 limit, while Baleares, Catalonia and the Basque Country are working on their own restrictions. The national law aims to avoid a patchwork of regulations and ensure consistent standards across Spain, following examples set by countries such as Germany, Poland and Lithuania.
Consumer Affairs argues that energy drinks are not harmless soft drinks but potent stimulants with the capacity to alter heart rate, blood pressure and sleep patterns in adolescents. Earlier this year, the government had already banned their sale in school cafeterias and vending machines.
Under the new rules, shops that sell these products to minors could face penalties ranging from warnings to serious fines of up to €100,000, depending on the severity of the breach and the scale of distribution.
The draft law will now move into its final legislative stages, with enforcement expected to begin later this year.
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