Plans for clear ban on underage drinking

Dolores Cristina, the parliamentary secretary in the Social Policy Ministry, is looking to introduce clear laws prohibiting underage drinking.

Though the existing law stipulates that the sale of alcohol to those under 16 is illegal, it does not make any reference to the actual consumption of alcohol by minors.

This was one of the main points that emerged from a meeting which Ms Cristina called yesterday for all the stakeholders at the House of Representatives, to coincide with parliament's Christmas recess.

She explained that the meeting was being held in parliament as it was important to involve the legislators, those who implement the laws and those who were affected by the laws.

The aim, she said, was to try to identify areas not covered by the law, those which gave scope for misinterpretation and to recognise what further tools were needed for the laws to be implemented effectively.

A recent study by Marianne Massa, a principal officer at the Health Promotion Department, revealed that 47 per cent of 15-year-olds are already drinking alcohol on a weekly basis. More Maltese boys and girls drink wine than any other European nationality. The issue of whether the legal drinking age should go up to 18 was also discussed at yesterday's meeting, which follows a recent seminar on the same topic organised by the Parents' Association.

The seminar had highlighted the fact that the law requires further coordination and had a number of loopholes.

Ms Cristina and opposition spokesperson Marie Louise Coleiro are formulating a national policy on alcohol, the draft of which will be presented to the social affairs parliamentary committee by the middle of next year.

It was yesterday also agreed that with immediate effect a group made up of Sedqa, The Sense Group, the police and the Parents' Association would produce notices stating that the sale of alcohol to people under 16 is illegal. These will be distributed to those who have a licence to sell alcohol, who would be asked to display them prominently at their outlets.

Although the display of such notices would be on a voluntary basis at first, the entities at the meeting are confident that retailers would cooperate in the interest of protecting Malta's youth.

Ms Cristina said rather than a sudden revolution, what was wanted was an incremental improvement, eliminating drinking by minors and promoting healthier lifestyles.