Through its hardworking chief executive Sina Bugeja, sedqa has once again called for the raising of the legal age for drinking from 16 to 18.

There is no doubt that sedqa did not make this call just for the sake of doing so but it has proof that drinking among the younger generation has reached alarming proportions and that there are far too many of these youths who get involved in incidents because they are under the influence of alcohol. I think that a walk around the various entertainment spots will certainly underline sedqa's worries and should give backing to its call.

Mind you, if sedqa's request is finally taken up by the authorities, then it is important that the ban on alcohol drinking must also cover grocers and other similar outlets. There are youngsters , even 14-year-olds, who buy their bottles of alcohol from such outlets.

Many of them share the price of a bottle. Naturally they are already the worse for drink when they proceed to their favourite entertainment spot.

As sedqa no doubt knows, just getting the government to raise the age to 18 is not enough. Blanket enforcement is essential.

It is also necessary to have an educational campaign in all secondary schools and sixth forms - be they state, independent or Church - by holding regular lectures on the dangers and consequences of alcohol. A poster campaign will also do a lot of good.