Spain will restrict the sale of energy drinks to minors as the government increases efforts to protect children from unhealthy food and beverage marketing, Consumer Affairs Minister Pablo Bustinduy said Wednesday.
Energy Drink Sales Restrictions
The ministry is drafting a regulation to ban the sale of energy drinks to those under 16 years old. The minimum age will be raised to 18 for products containing more than 32 milligrams of caffeine per 100 milliliters.
A survey commissioned by the Spanish Agency for Food Safety and Nutrition found strong public support for tighter rules. Ninety-one percent of respondents believe sales of energy drinks should be banned for minors, and nearly 40 percent think the ban should extend to those under 16.
The same survey showed that 79 percent of Spaniards agree that advertising of unhealthy foods aimed at minors should be prohibited.
The government will also unveil a proposal in the coming weeks to regulate advertising of unhealthy foods, aligning Spain with recommendations from the World Health Organization and measures adopted in countries including Portugal, Norway, the United Kingdom, Ireland and Sweden.
Bustinduy warned that 80 percent of children and adolescents in Spain consume unhealthy foods and drinks, citing a report from the Gasol Foundation, and called the issue a public-health priority.
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