THE Balearic Islands are moving to ban energy drinks and laughing gas for under-18s amid growing ‘public health concerns’, authorities have said.
The Mallorca-based regional government green-lit the bill on Friday, though the rules will still need approval from the local parliament before they can come into force.
Sellers face fines ranging from €6,001 to a jaw-dropping €60,000 if caught selling the products to children.
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The move comes amid a wider crackdown on energy drinks across Spain, with the Balearics joining Asturias and Galicia in introducing restrictions as the central government works on a nationwide law.
Balearics health minister Manuela Garcia said: “The two measures set out in this decree-law are aimed at protecting minors.
“They are very much needed and backed by both the data and scientific evidence.”
She added the products ‘have no nutritional value’ and are linked to increased blood pressure, sleep problems, anxiety, heart palpitations and high sugar consumption.
Garcia also warned that mixing them with alcohol reduces people’s perception of how drunk they are, encouraging them to drink more.
The ban will apply to drinks containing high levels of caffeine combined with other stimulants, such as taurine or guarana, which are commonly found in Red Bull, Monster and Rockstar energy drinks.
It will also outlaw the sale of nitrous oxide, also known as laughing gas, to minors.
The gas is used in dentistry as a mild painkiller, but is also popular for recreational use to induce euphoria.
Unsupervised or long-term use has been linked to a range of health problems, including mouth burns, loss of consciousness and potential nerve damage.
Once approved, the ban is set to apply across all the Balearic Islands – including the popular holiday destinations of Mallorca, Menorca, Ibiza and Formentera.
The popularity of energy drinks has soared among young people in recent years, data shows.
In a 2023 survey in the Balearics, nearly half of young people aged 14 to 18 said they had consumed an energy drink in the previous month.
One in five also said they had mixed them with alcohol during the same period.
The Balearic government also said laughing gas was becoming increasingly popular in nightlife and tourist venues, warning that uncontrolled use could pose ‘serious’ health risks.
At national level, Spain’s Ministry of Social Rights, Consumer Affairs and the 2030 Agenda is also working on a draft law that would ban the sale of all energy drinks to under-16s.
The ban would be extended to under-18s for drinks containing more than 32 milligrams of caffeine per 100 millilitres.
The proposal is still being worked on and has yet to become law.
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