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INPRIMATU
Prohibition of energy drinks to minors in Galicia
  • The Xunta de Galicia equips energy drinks with alcoholic beverages due to the large amount of stimulants that can affect health. As of 2024 the sale of Monster, Red Bull, Burn and similar minors will be prohibited, even young people will not be able to consume these products.
Jon Torner Zabala @jtorner 2023ko urriaren 17a
Argazkia: Jorge Franganillo / Wikimedia

The Galician government has listed the damages (difficulty in concentration, increased heart rate, digestive problems, addiction...) that stimulants such as caffeine and taurine can cause among children. It has compared with alcoholic beverages and, as with them, will ban the consumption of energy products. Energy brands may not advertise to minors.

According to data provided by the Department of Health, 40.4% of Galicia from 14 to 18 years old consume energy drinks and the amount increases in recent years. For boys the figure (49.6%) is higher than for girls (31.2%). According to the study carried out by the University of Compostela, 12.5% of young people aged 12 and 17 consume energy products at least once a week. Many of them, in addition, mixed with alcoholic beverages, which is the "clock pump".

It is the first community in the state that has taken a similar decision in which the consumption of energy drinks (50%) exceeds Galicia. Conversely, in other countries (Latvia, Lithuania, Australia, New Zealand or Uzbekistan), consumption of these beverages is prohibited for children under 18 years of age. In Colombia, the ban applies to children under 14 years of age.

The new law passed in Galicia also includes bapeadores or electronic cigarettes, banning their consumption and sale in the case of minors. On the 11th, journalist Mikel GarcĂ­a published in ARGIA the article entitled: Children's e-cigarettes trigger a red alert.