El consumption of energy drinks among minors It has become a major health problem In Spain and much of Europe, more and more teenagers and pre-teens are turning to these cans loaded with caffeine, sugar, and other stimulants to keep up with studying, training, or simply to socialize with friends, without really being aware of the potential consequences.
Meanwhile, families, schools, and healthcare professionals They warn of effects such as insomnia, anxiety, irritability, or poor school performance.Several autonomous communities have already taken the step of regulating its sale to minors. At the same time, a debate is opening up in Brussels about whether a common framework is needed in the European Union, which is running into resistance from part of the industry, which defends self-regulation.
Spain, above the European average and with a very early start to consumption
In our country, the data handled by parents' associations and health experts paints a worrying picture. Nearly half of teenagers regularly consume energy drinksAnd the first contact often comes between the ages of 10 and 12, a stage in which the body and brain are still in full development.
These drinks combine high doses of caffeine, large amounts of sugar and other stimulants such as taurineFor a child, a single can can be equivalent to several cups of coffee at once, something that specialists consider disproportionate for their age. Families warn that Spain is already above the European average in consumption among minors, and that the phenomenon is beginning to leave its mark on both their health and daily lives.
Among the effects most frequently reported by parents are the insomnia, chronic fatigue, irritability, anxiety, and a drop in school performanceEducation and psychology professionals also point to problems with concentration, short-term memory loss, and difficulties maintaining attention in class.
Studies cited by organizations such as the Spanish Confederation of Parents' Associations (CEAPA) show that Frequent consumption can affect memory, learning ability and emotional regulationAt the same time, concern about dependency is growing: many young people admit that they feel they "need it" to train, study at night or perform better.
Another cause for alarm is the combination with other substances. Nearly one in five teenagers mixes energy drinks with alcohol, a combination that addiction specialists consider especially dangerous because of the masking effect of stimulants on the perception of intoxication.
Impact on family life and the mental health of children
Beyond the statistics, many families describe clear changes in their daily lives when these drinks become part of their routine. They accumulate. Sleepless nights, arguments about using these cans, increased household expenses, and more visits to the doctor for vague symptoms such as palpitations, headaches, nervousness, or sleep problems.
Pediatrics and child psychiatry emphasize that the adolescent brain is especially vulnerable. Experts consulted by government agencies remind us that Brain development is not complete until well into one's twenties.Therefore, repeated exposure to powerful stimulants can alter processes such as sleep regulation, impulsivity, or stress management.
Healthcare professionals from various specialties agree in warning of a range of risks: tachycardia, elevated blood pressure, a feeling of suffocation, anxiety attacks, intense irritability, aggression, and even depressive symptomsThese problems are compounded by behaviors that are particularly worrying, such as the use of these drinks to "get drunk" in the early hours of the morning before an exam or after demanding training sessions.
Professionals from addictive behavior units also emphasize that this is products that can easily "hook" young childrenSome specialists even describe them as a kind of "soft drug" for minors, due to the way they are integrated into daily life, their powerful marketing, and the social normalization of their consumption.
The perception that they are harmless also works against them. Many teenagers They do not equate these drinks with other known risks such as tobacco, alcohol, or illegal drugs.but with one more soft drink, even though a single can can contain the equivalent of several coffees and a very high sugar content.
Asturias and Galicia lead the way in regional regulation
Faced with this scenario, several autonomous communities have begun to take action. Galicia has taken a firm step towards prohibit the sale of energy drinks to minors under 18 years of age, placing it among the most restrictive regions in Europe in this area.
Asturias, for its part, is processing a law in its parliament that It will prohibit the sale, supply and consumption of these beverages to minors under 16 years of age.The Government of the Principality argues that this is a "collective" regulation, agreed upon with the relevant departments, the education sector, and consumer associations, with the aim of offering greater protection to the approximately 30.000 young people between the ages of 12 and 16 who are estimated to be potential consumers in the region.
The Asturian legislative project is particularly detailed. It includes restrictions on advertising, the obligation to provide signage and delimit points of sale and a sanctions regime inspired by that of alcohol and tobacco. It includes warnings and fines that, in the most serious cases involving large-scale sales, can exceed €10.000 and even lead to the closure of establishments.
One of the most striking points of the text is the obligation that vending machines incorporate age verification systemsThis measure aims to close a relatively easy access route for many young people, especially in school, sports or leisure environments.
The Asturian law sets the minimum age at 16 years, based, according to its government, on Two milestones: the end of compulsory education and the so-called health maturity.Even so, several experts appearing before the General Assembly argued that it would be more consistent to equate the prohibition with that of alcohol and tobacco, that is, to set it at 18 years of age.
Debate between free markets, public health, and the role of the family
The proposed regulation has sparked intense debate among the various stakeholders. Family organizations like CEAPA point out that, even without waiting for all the autonomous communities to legislate, Households can act as the first line of defenseTheir campaign, “They’re a nuisance, not a source of joy,” funded with public money, encourages parents to get informed, talk to their children clearly, and set limits on purchases and consumption at home.
This initiative emphasizes some basic guidelines: Identify signs of substance use such as insomnia, irritability, or a drop in gradesTo debunk advertising myths with real data; to promote healthy alternatives for hydration and energy recovery; and, above all, to set an example by preventing adults from normalizing the use of these drinks in front of children.
In the political and legal spheres, the debate revolves around the right to health and the right to freedom of choicePsychiatry experts who have appeared before the Asturian parliament point out that, when dealing with minors, the balance should clearly tip towards health protection, especially when it is known that the brain does not finish maturing until after the age of 20.
From the other side, representatives of large distribution chains are raising concerns. Spokespeople for companies in the sector maintain that A ban should be the Administration's last resort and that it would be preferable to deploy broad awareness campaigns, with clear information in schools and the media.
The distribution also raises practical issues: they warn that The sole responsibility for monitoring compliance with the regulation cannot fall on retail workers.and they fear that certain legal wordings will create absurd situations, such as preventing an adult accompanied by a minor from buying an energy drink for themselves.
Europe is considering a common framework to address unequal consumption.
The debate about energy drinks among minors is not unique to Spain. In the European Parliament, several MEPs have expressed their views. their willingness to promote regulation at the community level given the concern about cardiovascular diseases, diabetes, anxiety and sleep disorders associated with high and sustained consumption.
Current regulations are very inconsistent: Countries such as France, Denmark, Germany, Latvia, Lithuania, Sweden, Poland, Romania, and Hungary have already restricted sales to minorsWhile other member states are considering similar measures, minimum ages vary, and in some cases only certain sales channels or advertising aimed at children and adolescents are regulated.
Consumer organizations point out that, for a 13-year-old child weighing around 50 kilos, The maximum recommended caffeine intake is around 150 milligrams per day.equivalent to a double espresso. However, heavy consumers of energy drinks can easily reach several liters per month, which is dozens of concentrated "coffees," in addition to a very high sugar intake.
European experts in nutrition and public health point out that Warning labels are insufficient in a context of strong advertising pressureespecially through social media, influencers, and sponsorships of sporting events widely followed by minors. Therefore, they propose a multi-pronged approach: education, marketing restrictions, sales bans in certain spaces such as schools, and, in some cases, tax incentives or specific taxes.
The industry, grouped in European soft drink associations, argues instead that Their voluntary commitments are sufficientThe company asserts that it does not target marketing campaigns to children under 13, avoids selling in schools, and complies with mandatory labeling warnings. Industry representatives believe that some proposed regulations are based on “ideological” views and a biased interpretation of available scientific studies.
At a technical level, the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) has indicated that, for adults, Single doses of caffeine up to 200 milligrams and daily consumption up to 400 milligrams can be considered safeHowever, the European Commission itself has acknowledged that the data is insufficient to set clear limits for children and adolescents, leaving room for each country to adopt age restrictions when justified by health reasons.
In this context, Spain and other Member States that are legislating on minors' access to energy drinks are operating in a terrain where Scientific evidence, social pressure, and economic interests intersect.The upcoming decisions, both in national parliaments and in Brussels, will determine the extent to which these cans will continue to be part of the daily lives of teenagers and pre-teens, or whether their use will be more restricted and supervised.
The growing prominence of energy drinks among minors, the increase in sleep problems, anxiety, and poor academic performance, and the regulatory response that is developing in communities like Galicia and Asturias and in European institutions, paint a picture in which The protection of children's and youth health is gaining importance over simple freedom of consumptionAt the same time, families are called upon to play a key role in curbing a habit that, if it takes hold, can have repercussions for years.
