PROPERTY SEARCH
Andalucia considers banning the sale of energy drinks to minors
Malaga medical experts have started a campaign against the caffeine-leaden beverages
Last month, Galicia made history by becoming the first region in Spain to ban the sale of energy drinks to people under the age of 18 and it looks like Andalucia could come in as close second.
Social media has lit up in the past few days with a new campaign from the College of Physicians of Malaga bearing the slogan ‘Don’t let it take away your energy,’ whose primary aim is to urge the regional government into an outright ban for minors.
Crucially though, the Malaga drive raises distinctions between three types of energy drinks: isotonic ones, high in non-harmful mineral salts; sports drinks; and energy drinks. The campaign is directed towards the latter.
“We must make families aware that it should not be a common drink to buy to have at home,” college president Pedro J. Navarro said, especially since over-consumption in youngsters can lead to all sorts of cardiovascular, neurological and psychological problems, including arrhythmias, irritability, and behavioural and sleep disturbances.
According to a Ministry of Health study, 45% of minors admit to consuming energy drinks on a regular basis but just one of these sugary, caffeine-loaded beverages can exceed the recommended daily limits.
Castilla y León and the Valencian Community are currently studying a ban on these drinks for children, while other areas like Aragón, the Balearic Islands, Castilla-La Mancha and Navarra are looking into prohibiting beverages that don’t have the EU stamp of approval.
In general though, according to European regulations, these drinks will still be OK for general sale once they contain a label indicating that they are high in caffeine.
The Spanish Agency for Food Safety and Nutrition has also been doing its bit to educate consumers, and since last year energy drinks have to sport a label reading: “Not recommended for children or pregnant or breastfeeding women.”
In other news: Two Frenchmen arrested for Marbella café shooting
Image: Freepik
Sign up for the Spanish News Today Editors Roundup Weekly Bulletin and get an email with all the week’s news straight to your inbox
Special offer: Subscribe now for 25% off (36.95 euros for 48 Bulletins)
OR
you can sign up to our FREE weekly roundup!
Read some of our recent bulletins:
25% Discount Special Offer subscription:
36.95€ for 48 Editor’s Weekly News Roundup bulletins!
Please CLICK THE BUTTON to subscribe.
(List price 3 months 12 Bulletins)
Read more stories from around Spain:
Contact Spanish News Today: Editorial 966 260 896 /
Office 968 018 268
