Combating alcohol abuse by minors

The conclusions of the opinion survey about alcohol consumption and young people, carried in The Sunday Times last week, make several references to the high percentages of adults who disapprove of young people consuming alcohol, law enforcement and what the adult Maltese population thinks about this.

There seems to be a general consensus about various factors, among them the rise in the age limit for the consumption of alcohol from 16 to 18, and with the current legislation that under-16s should not be allowed to purchase alcohol from bars, shops and supermarkets.

These are all very positive points that Sedqa and similar organisations have been working on for the past years. Regarding the age limit for the consumption of alcohol, Sedqa's stand is that this rises to 18, an age closer to the age limits in other European countries.

Current legislation about the purchase of alcoholic beverages states that alcohol cannot be sold to under-16-year-olds. We believe this limit should rise to 18. To support this, Sedqa together with other bodies (The Sense Group, GRTU, the police, Ghaqda Genituri and Assocjazzjoni Genituri Nharsu 'l Uliedna) last year embarked on a campaign against the sale of alcohol to minors. Posters were eventually distributed to all owners of establishments selling alcohol, to be displayed to customers.

However, and this is also stated in Professor Mario Vassallo's comments, young people in Malta still have liberal views when it comes to alcohol consumption habits. In view of the results of the latest European School Survey Project on Alcohol and other Drugs (ESPAD), conducted in 2003, Sedqa this year embarked on an ongoing campaign against alcohol abuse with particular reference to binge drinking.

In the ESPAD, carried out among 16-year-olds in 35 European countries, Malta ranked fifth in the proportion of 16-year-old students who reported bingeing three times or more during the last 30 days. Binge drinking, described in the study as drinking five drinks or more in one session, has become a major problem among young people in Malta and it needs to be continuously addressed, especially when one considers that only 6.4% of the 16-year-old Maltese respondents in the ESPAD had not had alcohol at least once in their lives, while 51.1% of this population actually reported taking alcohol on 20 or more occasions in their lives.

A significant increase from 18% in the 1999 survey to 32% in the 2003 survey was recorded in those who admitted to have had their last alcoholic drink in a disco. Therefore the obvious measure to address this is to enforce the law.

All recent literature about the subject clearly points to law enforcement as the measure that materially decreases the consumption of alcohol and its abuse. Additionally, a consistent percentage of 21% of those taking part in both surveys reported to have had their last alcoholic beverage at home. This shows that parents need to own up to their responsibilities at this end. They need to be more sensitive and educated about the effects of alcohol especially at such a young age. Opportunities are available if they take the trouble to seek information. Many do.

Drink driving

Traffic fatalities due to alcohol consumption and abuse are on the increase and law enforcement is without doubt the most effective means to arrest this abuse. Drink driving is very serious, and it is by far the greatest contributor to traffic fatalities especially during the late hours of the night. There is one solution to this - strict enforcement in entertainment areas. Our wardens have been very effective on minor traffic violations. We are sure they would be extremely effective if they are allowed to operate at this level.

All these facts show that there is no one solution but the impact depends on a package of measures that is supported by all stakeholders, particularly parents, educators and businessmen and the law enforcement officers.

Special mention must be made here of local leaders, particularly band club officials. They are responsible to educate their young members. Band clubs are a very important feature of local culture but the behaviour and the rampant abuse of alcohol during festa time is nothing but a disgrace to the clubs. The band clubs have a responsibility to change the culture of alcohol abuse during festa time and insist that any participation in the club's events has to be free of excessive drinking.

In this light, several initiatives are co-ordinated each year by Sedqa's Primary Prevention Team in schools and within the community, and this clearly demonstrates the prioritisation that Sedqa gives to education.

Over 30,000 students in primary schools and over 20,000 in secondary schools received primary prevention programmes from school last year alone. The main objective is the collaboration between the agency, educators and parents in creating a working relationship that fosters children's learning and healthy life choices.

All entities should work together to assist all sections of the community, in particular young people, to develop understanding, attitudes and ultimately behaviour, thus enabling them to minimise, and if possible avoid, alcohol-related harm.

For more information about Sedqa's prevention programmes, one can contact the Primary Prevention Team on tel. 2124-4226. Sedqa offers its care services both within the community and in residential settings.

People needing help with problems related to substance abuse can be referred, refer themselves to these services or access more information by calling helpline 151, or by visiting the agency's Website www.sedqa.gov.mt

Ms Vella Piscopo is communications officer of the Foundation for Social Welfare Services