A loud and clear aye

The European School Survey Project On Alcohol And Other Drugs (ESPAD) ranked Maltese 16-year-old students first among 34 countries, first in wine and spirit consumption and fifth in binge drinking. These same figures are correlated by another survey this time conducted by the Health Promotion Unit, the Health Behaviour Of School-Aged Children.

Consistently in the last 12 years, Sedqa brought to the forefront the growing dangers of abusing alcohol and the lax attitude to alcohol consumption in the population generally and minors in particular. This year, Sedqa delivered programmes to more than 13,000 students in primary and secondary schools. Moreover, on the alcohol treatment side alone, last year, Sedqa dealt with over 400 clients apart from their families. However, prevention and treatment alone are not enough.

In this respect we welcome the amendments to the Criminal Code that will introduce a minimum drinking age of 16 and make it a criminal offence for an adult to serve alcohol to a person under 16. At this point, I would say why not 18, as in most other European countries? Legislation is an important factor in a package of measures that are meant to bring control and protection.

The World Health Organisation makes it very clear that, while prevention strategies are important and form an integral part of a coherent strategy, legislation and enforcement is what will drive the culture change. This was lacking in Malta and now we are seeing an important move in this direction. However, more is needed particularly in banning all sort of alcohol products advertising, as happened for tobacco products.

The amendments will give the opportunity to educators to give a more consistent message on the use and abuse of alcohol. We will no longer find ourselves in the situation where we inform young people that alcohol, even in small quantities, is harmful to them.

But at the same time there is no legislation that prohibits such practice, rendering our voice futile and unforthcoming.

Substance abuse prevention is still not a compulsory subject in schools. It should be, and parents want this.

These amendments place responsibility on those who supply or sell alcohol to minors and we do expect to see abusers arraigned and their trading licences revoked. This is what these amendments, in part, are meant to achieve.

However, we would be naïve to think that with legislation the problem will vanish. This development needs the full support and backing of parents and community leaders especially those in direct contact with young people such as sports clubs, band clubs and the like. Community leaders by office are directly responsible to promote healthy lifestyles and facilitate educating young people through updated club policies and practices that guarantee mutual respect and growth.

This is where clubs need to be pro-active and I have to mention that several parties within the alcohol industry are adhering to a code of ethics set by Sedqa for events like beer and wine festivals. Others need to follow suit.

The amendments to the Criminal Code are geared in striking the right balance between coercion and support. While the consumption of alcohol is an offence at law and, therefore, punishable, the corrective measures are pro-active, supportive and do not in any way disrupt the normal living of a young person. In this respect, Sedqa is gearing itself towards introducing a specific community programme that is meant to inform, educate and empower the young offender towards making the best choices for him/herself.

In spite of this, the amendments were both welcomed and criticised by both sides of the House of Representatives. It is great to see MPs rising above party politics to give a genuine and objective contribution. It is understandable to have divergent opinions.

However, science is objective and it is telling us that we have a serious alcohol problem among many young people.

International institutions like the WHO have chartered the way forward which Malta have signed up to follow.

Parents are calling for support whenever they have the opportunity to speak. Fortunately and encouragingly, most young people know what is good for them and, so far, I have not heard of one single youth organisation coming out against the amendments.

These amendments are to many of us the right and reasonable thing to have. I am not an MP so I do not get to vote on the Bill but if I were, my "aye" would be loud and clear for all to hear.

Mr Gerada is chief executive officer, Foundation for Social Welfare Services.