The Spanish Government is moving ahead with a ban on energy drinks for minors, based on data warning of the risks of caffeine in adolescents, reports Euronews.
The country’s Health Ministry said the restriction will be even stricter for drinks with high caffeine content: those above 32mg per 100ml will not be allowed to be sold to children under 18.
The initiative is part of a broader package of measures aimed at protecting children’s and young people’s health. Similar regulations already exist in other regions of the country; the central government is now seeking to unify the criteria.
The announcement is supported by data from the barometer on food and energy drink advertising produced by the Spanish Agency for Food Safety and Nutrition (AESAN), which indicates that nine out of 10 people in the country support the ban.
Regulation of children's food advertising
In addition, another regulation to restrict food advertising aimed at children is pending approval.
With this, Spain aims to reduce the exposure of minors to hypercaloric and unhealthy content that negatively influences their consumption habits.
The Health Ministry has appealed to the “duty" of companies in the sector not to promote products that harm children's right to health.
Legislation across Europe
There is no European-wide legislation on energy drinks sales and consumption, but some are introducing age bans due to health concerns.
Lithuania and Latvia were the first countries in the European Union to prohibit sales to under 18s in 2014 and 2016, respectively.
Bulgaria, Hungary, Poland and Romania have followed, with restrictions on purchases and consumption. Measures include bans on sales in vending machines and at schools.
In Sweden, while there is no law imposing an age limit for energy drinks, the Swedish Retail Trade Association agreed in 2009 to restrict sales to minors under 15, while the Czech Parliament is currently discussing a proposed ban on the sale of energy drinks to under 15s.
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