Curbing drinking by youths

I refer to The Times' recent report about the alarming number of young foreigners who are rushed to hospital because of over indulging in alcohol or who have somehow injured themselves or got into a fight because of alcoholism.

This was really nothing new for people who live in the various areas of entertainment or for those who keep a watch on such situations.

Many foreign students who come to learn English in summer are happy that they can roam around drinking to their hearts' content. This they cannot do in their country as the age limit there is 18 or 21.

Many young Maltese get away with murder when it comes to underage drinking. The authorities always promise to introduce measures to curb drinking among youngsters but little or nothing has been done over the years. The police have long learnt to turn a Nelson's eye to many a situation.

Advisers to the British government have just proposed drastic action to try and curb an ever-increasing alcohol problem. The total banning of advertising alcohol at sport and music events which youths attend as well as no advertising in cinemas are just two measures proposed.

Britain has one of the worst problems with tobacco and alcohol in Europe. It is so serious that they are even advising the reduction of the legal drink drive limit from 80 mgs to 50 mgs per 100 mls of blood for the under-25 drivers.

Another worry in Britain, and I have no doubt that this also concerns Malta, is that adults, even parents, buy drinks for their siblings when these cannot do so themselves. Caritas, Sedqa and many other organisations have been hammering away at the necessity of introducing legislation to curb underage drinking.

This must not be a piecemeal affair introducing measures in dribs and drabs but an effective comprehensive law that should be introduced jointly by the government and the Opposition alike seeing that they are afraid of losing votes if certain action is taken in areas of entertainment.

Another must is that policemen on duty must be alert, show no fear or favour and take the action necessary to protect young people.