Banning alcohol consumption by minors

I am glad to note the comments made recently by Social Solidarity Minister Dolores Cristina and by the Health Promotion Department's director Mario Spiteri on the subject of underage drinking.

This time last year, Ghaqda Genituri, whose main objectives are those of addressing parents on awareness of underage drinking, was lobbying for appropriate laws to introduce a minimum age (18 years) for alcohol consumption, to impose an outright prohibition of sales of sealed bottles of alcohol to minors (presently a retail outlet may sell even to two-year-olds), to create efficient and effective enforcement structures and to introduce hefty fines for abusers and fines/suspension of licence for the dispensing outlets that break the law.

Minister Cristina set up a working committee which included, among other, Helen D'Amato, Marie Louise Coleiro, the Commissioner of Police, the Sense Group, Sedqa, Ghaqda Genituri and another support group which shares similar objectives. The setting up of this groups took off with great enthusiasm and it seemed that, at least, a White Paper or its equivalent would crystallise by the end of this year. Unfortunately, I must say that, after two fruitful meetings, our priorities were overtaken by other government priorities and we are back to base once again.

It is disappointing to note that, in the meantime, there were cases in court, reported in the press, one regarding a traffic accident and another regarding defilement of minors, where the young accused said they were under the influence of alcohol and "did not therefore know what they were doing".

The endemic size of the problem of underage drinking was also aptly highlighted and debated in at least two popular television programmes during the year.

Another year has gone by and we are yet about to celebrate a Christian festive season in an environment where open bars (which have also become a sine qua non in office parties) are an easy way of making money and in the process ruining tomorrow's society (the younger generation) and in many cases also breaking today's society (adults who, through abuse of alcohol, also fall into the trap of "I did not know what I was doing").

I would like to sincerely appeal to the three honorable ladies mentioned above, who are known to be dedicated and responsible mothers, to make the issue of underage drinking a genuine and serious New Year's resolution and to turn it into a gift to society in the year 2005.

As for this festive season, may I recommend that, together with the Commissioner of Police, they do all that is within their power to address this issue, particularly that of strict enforcement with zero tolerance. Being a parent and a grandparent myself, I feel that I must conclude by appealing to parents and grandparents to infuse in their family culture a sense of balance in alcohol consumption.