When can you use pepper spray?

Today we tell you all about pepper spray: from what it is and how it works, to the legal regulations governing its purchase and use in Spain.

Pepper spray has become famous as an effective self-defence tool. It allows those who carry it to feel safer in risky situations, providing a quick and accessible solution to deter potential attackers.

However, its use raises questions about legal issues, its correct use and the consequences of inappropriate use.

What is pepper spray?

Pepper spray is a means of self-defence designed to temporarily incapacitate a potential attacker. Its main content is capsicum oleoresin, a compound derived from hot peppers that causes intense irritation to the eyes, skin and respiratory tract. Its use causes effects such as burning, shortness of breath and blurred vision, allowing time to escape from dangerous situations.

Is pepper spray allowed in Spain?

Royal Decree 137/1993, which approves weapons regulations in Spain, allows persons over the age of 18 to acquire and use pepper spray as a deterrent and in legitimate self-defence. This means that minors are not allowed to use or purchase such self-defence devices.

Sprays must be approved by the Ministry of Health, which has a list of those that are accepted in Spain and can only be sold in gun shops. Therefore, those purchased on the Internet or in other establishments and those that do not form part of the above list are not legal.

When can pepper spray be used?

The use of such sprays is only permitted to deter an attacker when we have to use them in self-defence. At no time is indiscriminate use of pepper spray permitted without sufficient justification.

Can I be fined for using pepper spray?

The penalty you can get for using pepper spray inappropriately is a fine of between €100 and €600, depending on the seriousness of the offence.

If the indiscriminate or inappropriate use of pepper spray causes injury to the person receiving the contents, you may be charged with an offence of causing injury and you may be sentenced to a fine and ordered to pay civil liability for the damage caused.

Pepper spray can be an effective tool to ensure personal safety, but its use must be accompanied by responsibility and knowledge of current regulations. If you decide to carry pepper spray, do so with the aim of protecting yourself in extreme situations.

Self-defence should never become an act of aggression, and information on its proper use is the first step in ensuring a safer and more respectful environment for all.