Consum will prohibit the sale of energy drinks to minors under 16 years of age
Consumption is down among younger people, but continues to rise among men aged 15 to 34.
"There is scientific evidence that energy drinks have become a threat to the health of young people." This was stated on Wednesday by the Minister of Social Rights, Consumer Affairs, and Agenda 2030, Pablo Bustinduy, to justify the approval of new regulations to limit this phenomenon. The Spanish government has announced that it will prohibit the sale of energy drinks to minors under sixteen, and the ban will be extended to those under 18 for drinks containing more than 32 milligrams of caffeine per 100 milliliters. Currently, more than a third of Spanish students between the ages of fourteen and eighteen have consumed energy drinks, such as Red Bull, Burn, or Monster, and approximately 15% admit to mixing them with alcohol. The main consumers are boys, who, in fact, drink twice as much as girls. These drinks, designed to stimulate the nervous system and produce a temporary feeling of energy or alertness, are associated with an increase in cases of anxiety, depression, impulsivity, and sleep disorders, as well as palpitations, feelings of tachycardia, and concentration problems. Furthermore, they concern authorities due to their high sugar content and the excessive caffeine they can cause, which is particularly problematic for teenagers, who are more sensitive to this chemical than adults.
The 2025 survey on drug use in secondary education (ESTUDES) shows that, on an evolutionary scale, energy drink consumption among both boys and girls is at its lowest level since 2016. However, the survey on alcohol and other drugs in Spain (EDA) confirms a sustained increase in consumption among the youngest age group, 15 to 34 years old, especially among males. "Regardless of sex, an increase in the prevalence of consumption is generally observed with increasing age," states the Spanish government. This has led the Spanish government to consider restrictions similar to those for tobacco or alcohol among minors, given that this age group is considered more prone to initiating energy drink consumption and continuing it into adulthood, and also because they are the group most likely to be targeted by marketing strategies. Furthermore, these drinks have little to no nutritional value and, conversely, many associated risks.
Social support
Bustinduy emphasized that a restrictive measure on sugary drinks enjoys broad public support, referring to the barometer on advertising of food and energy drinks released last week by the Spanish Agency for Food Safety and Nutrition (AESAN). According to this report, nine out of ten people in Spain would agree with this ban. The minister also highlighted that this figure includes very high support among young people: 88.3% of those surveyed between 18 and 35 years old would ban energy drinks. However, this same report indicates that 25% of respondents consume energy drinks, doing so an average of twice a week. Furthermore, almost half (49%) of those who consume energy drinks have at least one a day, and 47% regularly mix them with alcohol.
Regarding how and when this measure will come into effect, Bustinduy stated that he has "the firm intention" of implementing this regulation with "the most effective legal instrument" and that it "will be enacted as soon as possible." "We want public authorities to do their part and guarantee safe environments for children and adolescents, above economic interests," Bustinduy pointed out. For now, there is no timeline in sight. This regulation will complement the existing ban on the sale of energy drinks in schools throughout Spain. Furthermore, in response to the rise of "highly aggressive advertising campaigns" for energy drinks and other unhealthy products, the minister noted that regulations to control their advertising were recently implemented.
