Bottle shops

I want to express my concern regarding the new proposed legal notice to force bottle shops and confectioneries in prime areas to stop selling alcohol and spirits from 9 p.m. onwards.

The regulation is biased and unfounded and goes against consumers' right to choose. The effect of such a law will only shift habits to a few hours earlier and not stop them, if that was the intention.

The issue is not to protect the interests of teenagers for such laws already exist and the practice can only be controlled through proper police monitoring and surveillance. However, to state that this enforcement is solely to monitor the "unfair competition" is unacceptable. (Is Malta really part of the EU?)

Why must a consumer be forced to buy drinks (sometimes of very inferior quality) from bars and clubs?

An average drink in a club costs around Lm1 yet through bottle shops an average drink (of genuine quality) costs around 35c. Naturally, a consumer in his right mind will choose to purchase from a bottle shop and can enjoy a drink with friends in an open place and not in an enclosed environment full of smoke fumes (and we thought smoking had been banned!). Such a measure will surely secure the exorbitant profits of clubs and bar restaurant owners.

If the government is really concerned about the welfare of our young ones, it should be straightforward and take adequate measures. However, we all acknowledge that such measures can never materialise as votes will be lost in the process.

Why pass a legal notice to allow shops to open (during summer time) for longer hours and through another legal notice force them not to sell their product?