The Government will prohibit the sale of energy drinks to minors and the recreational use of laughing gas
It has approved a decree-law that foresees fines of up to 60,000 euros for those who do not comply with the new prohibitions
PalmaThe Government will prohibit the sale and supply of energy drinks to minors and will ban the marketing of nitrous oxide, popularly known as laughing gas, when intended for inhalation for recreational purposes. The Governing Council approved this Friday a decree-law of urgent measures regarding public health protection that will now have to be validated by Parliament. The Minister of Health, Manuela García, defended both measures as a response to two "public health problems" that particularly affect the young population. "Both prohibitions are backed by data and have the support of the scientific community," she assured during the press conference following the Governing Council.
The ban on energy drinks is the main novelty of the regulations. From their entry into force, establishments will not be able to sell or supply them to minors, in the same way as already happens with alcohol and tobacco. The regulation will be made by amending the autonomous law on drug addiction and other addictions.
The measure comes after data has revealed the high prevalence of this type of drink among adolescents. According to the Estudes 2023 survey, 47.7% of students between 14 and 18 years old had consumed energy drinks during the previous month. One in five, 19.5%, claimed to have mixed them with alcohol during the same period.
The regulations consider energy drinks to be non-alcoholic beverages with high concentrations of caffeine, usually combined with sugars and other stimulant substances such as taurine, guarana or glucuronolactone. The ban will not affect isotonic drinks intended for sports rehydration, as they have a different composition and purpose. Health points out that the consumption of these drinks can be related to sleep disturbances, nervousness and tachycardia, in addition to representing a high sugar intake. The risks increase especially when combined with alcohol.
Laughing gas prohibited for recreational purposes
The second front of the decree-law is nitrous oxide. The Government will prohibit its sale, dispensing, and advertising when the product is intended to be inhaled for recreational purposes. The measure aims to act especially in the face of increased consumption of this substance in certain leisure and tourist environments. The prohibition, however, will not affect the medical, dental, hospital, food, and industrial uses of nitrous oxide, which will continue to be permitted.
Technical reports on which the Government bases its decision warn of the risks associated with recreational consumption of laughing gas, including loss of consciousness, coordination disorders, accidents, and hypoxia. Repeated consumption can also cause neurological damage related to a functional deficit of vitamin B12.
The decree-law incorporates non-compliance with the new prohibitions as a serious offense within the regional regulations on drug dependence. Sanctions may range from 6,001 to 60,000 euros. The specific amount will depend on factors such as the risk to health, the severity of the health alteration produced, the benefit obtained, the damages caused, the intentionality, or the repetition of the conduct. The decree will now have to go through Parliament, where the Government expects to have the necessary support for its approval.