Bar owner laments downside of bottle shops

As traditional bars and clubs in Paceville face rising operating and compliance costs, so-called bottle shops selling cheap drinks to youngsters are keeping people with money to spend away from Malta's entertainment mecca, Philip Fenech, president of the GRTU's tourism, hospitality and leisure section, told a Business Today seminar yesterday.

The BJ's club owner, who attended the breakfast meeting discussing the revival of Paceville straight after a night's work, said that although the business pattern in the area had fluctuated along the years, never had the place experienced such a drastic slide over the past four years.

Not only Paceville establishments were experiencing a negative patch. Mr Fenech said clubs' and bars' incomes were dwindling because of lower tourist volumes and seasonal fluctuations coupled with a lack of disposable income among Maltese consumers.

Mr Fenech, who had opposed a blanket smoking ban in bars and restaurants, said that though the ban was positive from a health perspective, the new law had changed "the dynamics of how business is done in the area".

Among the issues which Mr Fenech discussed were the opening hours, the "curfew of underage youths" and the parking problem.

The laws lays down that outlets have to switch off music by 4 a.m., even in sound-proof establishments. However, Mr Fenech said, the law was not evenly enforced and this led to unfair competition, calling for the "6 a.m. music phase-off" to be re-introduced.

The law prohibiting the sale of alcohol to minors in bars was leading to a situation whereby underage youths drank in the streets and gave Paceville an ambience of degeneration.

Entrepreneur Frank Grima was meant to be a main speaker but took the stand for just a few minutes. He delivered comments off the cuff to the effect that Paceville needs tidying up and that a concerted effort was needed to attract more business.

The Parliamentary Secretary for the Self-Employed, Edwin Vassallo, spoke about competition between the different establishments, mentioning a number of problems such as an attempt by larger clubs and bars that try to eliminate competition as well as the problems faced by residents.

Making a moral argument, Mr Vassallo said he did not agree with those establishments that "use sex" as an attraction or as entertainment for the masses. He did not elaborate.

"In fact, while in my political capacity I refuse to allow the issue of certain permits, I am aware that not everybody agrees with me, and I accept their point of view. An observation of what goes on in Paceville will give us an idea of our society as a whole, because, as I already mentioned, it brings together many realities side by side," Mr Vassallo said.