Raise legal drinking age to 21 and ban alcohol adverts - OASI
Foundation insists alcohol to be recognised as 'the primary problem'
The legal drinking age should be raised to 21 and advertising of alcohol in public spaces and on social media should be banned, OASI Foundation have said.
In their response to the proposed National Alcohol Policy which was launched in June, OASI insisted alcohol should be recognised “as the primary problem”.
“The culture of alcohol use is so deeply embedded in Maltese social life that excessive drinking is often dismissed as harmless fun,” OASI said, adding that addressing this normalisation is crucial if prevention and treatment efforts are to be truly effective.
At the policy launch, Social Policy Minister Michael Falzon had said Malta needed a cultural shift that would see alcohol perceived in the same way as cigarettes which are now almost frowned upon.
While acknowledging that some of the Foundation’s proposals may be “drastic” and might even “cause fury “ among some people, OASI CEO Noel Xerri said “we feel the need to propose these ideas which are based on the current devastating realities, caused by alcohol and other drugs, in the hope of continued social improvement”.
“We feel that as professionals, it is our moral obligation – which far outweighs any desire to be liked – to state what needs to be stated, based on research and experience,” Xerri added.
Among the key suggestions put forward by OASI is the requirement for all establishments serving alcohol and other substances to attend training seminars on substance abuse every three years, similar to a first aid certification.
They Foundation also suggests alcohol promotion during celebrations involving moving vehicles should be banned and no alcohol or alcohol-related products should be allowed in the driving or seating compartments of any vehicle.
Alcohol testing in domestic violence and peace-breaking indents should be mandatory while breathalyser tests should also be compulsory on the scene of all traffic accidents and during routine traffic stops, they propose.
They also called for a comprehensive legal framework specific to alcohol to be drawn up, parallel to the existing laws for controlled substances. Moreover, a national database should be established to track repeat offenses and treatment compliance for court-mandated rehabilitation.
A bottom-up approach is needed to implement and draft realistic and effective policies with education and training to include all frontline personnel.
“Malta has taken an important step forward in drafting the National Alcohol Policy (2025). However, for real, measurable change to occur, enforcement must be prioritised and resourced. Prevention, regulation, and education must work in synergy,” OASI said.
The public consultation process on the National Alcohol Policy ended on July 31.