Spain’s Galicia Moves First: Under-18 Vape and Energy Drink Sales and Use Banned

Key Points

• Galicia becomes Spain’s first region to ban under-18s from buying or using vapes, and bars energy drink sales to minors.
• The law differentiates between minor violations by individuals and more serious breaches by retailers.
• Fines escalate sharply for repeat and aggravated violations, reaching over €600,000.
• Smoke-free protections expand to include buffer zones near key public buildings.
• Advertising restrictions tighten around schools and child-related facilities.

2Firsts, March 9, 2026

According to Galiciae, Spain’s Galicia region will bring into force a new law this Saturday aimed at protecting minors’ health and preventing addictive behaviors. The law bans the sale and use of vapes and energy drinks for anyone under 18, and introduces a tiered penalty regime along with options to replace fines with community service or intervention programs.

Under the law, minors caught using a vape or energy drink — or simply in possession of a vape device or energy drink — may face “minor” penalties ranging from €200 to €3,005.06 (about $232 to $3,485.87).

Retailers who sell vapes or energy drinks to minors (alongside similar restrictions applicable to alcohol and tobacco-related products) may face “serious” penalties ranging from €3,005.07 to €15,025.30 (about $3,485.88 to $17,429.35).

For repeat serious violations — such as committing another serious offense within five years — penalties can rise substantially to €15,025.31 to €601,012.11 (about $17,429.36 to $697,174.05).

Beyond fines, the law also allows certain penalties to be substituted with community service or participation in rehabilitation/prevention programs (for example, alcohol cessation initiatives).

Galicia is also expanding smoke-free protections by restricting smoking within 50 meters of entrances to educational, health, and administrative centers, and by limiting alcohol and energy drink advertising within 100 meters of schools and child-related facilities.

Image source: Galiciae.