Spain to Prohibit Energy Drink Sales to Under-16s

(MENAFN) Spain is moving to prohibit the sale of energy drinks to children and teenagers, Consumer Affairs Minister Pablo Bustinduy announced Wednesday, as Madrid intensifies its campaign to shield minors from harmful food and beverage marketing.

Bustinduy confirmed the ministry is actively drafting legislation that would bar energy drink sales to anyone under 16. The regulation would go further for high-caffeine products — those exceeding 32 milligrams per 100 milliliters — raising the minimum purchase age to 18.

The push enjoys overwhelming public backing. A barometer commissioned by the Spanish Agency for Food Safety and Nutrition found that 91 percent of respondents believe energy drink sales should be banned for minors, with nearly 40 percent specifically supporting a ban for those under 16.

The same survey revealed that 79 percent of Spaniards support prohibiting advertising of unhealthy foods targeting children — reflecting mounting pressure on the government to curb marketing practices that steer young consumers toward nutritionally poor products.

Bustinduy said the government will also release, within weeks, a parallel proposal to regulate junk food advertising aimed at minors. The move would bring Spain in line with guidance from the World Health Organization and mirror legislation already enacted in Portugal, Norway, the United Kingdom, Ireland, and Sweden.

The urgency is underscored by alarming data. Citing a Gasol Foundation report, Bustinduy warned that 80 percent of children and adolescents across Spain regularly consume unhealthy foods and beverages — a statistic he framed as a national public-health emergency demanding immediate regulatory action.

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