Spain's Ministry of Consumer Affairs has announced an ambitious plan to regulate the energy drink market at the national level. The new regulations will introduce an absolute ban on the sale of these products to people under 16 years of age, and for drinks with extremely high caffeine content - even up to 18 years of age. The reaction from the food sector is mixed, as producers complain about a lack of consultation and unfamiliarity with the detailed draft regulation that is set to revolutionize access to stimulants.

16-Year-Old Barrier

The sale of energy drinks will be completely prohibited to persons under sixteen years of age throughout the entire country.

Requirement to Present DNI

Sellers will be obligated to verify identity with every purchase, analogous to procedures related to alcohol.

Restrictions for High Caffeine

Products with the highest concentration of stimulating substances will be subject to a sales ban until the age of 18.

The Spanish Ministry of Consumer Affairs, led by Minister Pablo Bustinduy, has made an unprecedented decision to unify regulations concerning minors' access to stimulating non-alcoholic beverages. Until now, these regulations have been fragmented, with some autonomous communities, such as Galicia, implementing their own restrictions. The new law will apply nationwide and will introduce a requirement to present an identity document when purchasing DNI. This means Spain will join the group of European countries that treat energy drinks most strictly as products potentially harmful to the development of young organisms. The food industry reacted to these reports with great concern and surprise. Sector representatives emphasize that they have not yet been presented with an official draft of the regulation, and dialogue with the government on this matter has been virtually non-existent. The main point of contention is the classification of drinks – the ministry plans even stricter restrictions for products with the highest caffeine concentration, which would only be available from the age of 18. This two-tier age barrier aims to eliminate products like "energy shots" from teenagers' diets, which deliver sudden doses of stimulating substances, leading to tachycardia, anxiety states, and neurological problems in young people. Spain has been grappling with high consumption of energy drinks among school-aged youth for years; studies show that every third teenager regularly consumes them, prompting governments to apply methods known from the tobacco market. The Ministry argues that pro-health education is no longer sufficient, making it necessary to introduce systemic barriers. The project must now gain acceptance from other ministries and go through the parliamentary process, which will specify the technical parameters of caffeine content per milliliter of liquid that qualify a product for the ban. „Es una cuestión de protección de la salud pública de nuestros jóvenes que no puede esperar a la buena voluntad de las corporaciones.” (It is a matter of protecting the public health of our young people that cannot wait for the goodwill of corporations.) — Pablo Bustinduy

Mentioned People

  • Pablo Bustinduy — Spanish Minister of Consumer Affairs behind the proposed ban.