Fiona Galea Debono
Paceville alcohol ban may be extended to other areas
The ban on the consumption of alcohol and beverages in glass containers from the streets of Paceville has had mixed reactions. Photo: Darrin Zammit Lupi
Extending the ban on alcohol in Paceville streets to other localities and village feasts has been discussed and has not been excluded, The Times has been told.
Comments posted on timesofmalta.com have called for the consumption of alcohol in public to be outlawed even at festas and in other localities, following the issuing of a bye-law earlier this month which prohibits the consumption of alcohol in public places in Paceville.
Philip Fenech, the president of the tourism, hospitality and leisure division of the Chamber of Small and Medium Enterprise - GRTU, one of the main promoters of the bye-law, said Paceville was considered a pilot project. It had been chosen because it was active 365 days a year and because of its mixed-business scenario - it was not just an entertainment mecca.
The introduction of the ban would be "studied, with the possibility of extending it to other localities and village feasts, where needed, and without, of course, killing the ambience and the celebratory, fun aspect," he said.
Paceville had the "biggest problems", said Josef Formosa Gauci, CEO of the Malta Tourism Authority, which introduced the alcohol ban. While the village feasts were not an issue the MTA went into, he did not exclude the discussion and extension of the ban into other localities if the need was felt. However, he expressed caution when it came to applying it to public events.
The bye-law, aimed at restoring order in the "lawless" nightlife zone and improving the tourism product, has been considered more of a means to kill it - and run the bottle shops out of business - in other comments posted on timesofmalta.com.
While its introduction was welcomed by some, it was also maintained that the bars and clubs would benefit the most by pulling away the crowds that hang out around the confectioners, selling alcohol at cheaper prices.
"The GRTU has no right to stop us from buying from the more advantageous bottle shops, instead of their bars," one person remarked.
"Getting drunk in the streets is not good for Malta's image, whereas having the police harass tourists because they buy drinks from cheaper outlets should work wonders," was another sarcastic comment.
While the MTA, the GRTU and the Malta Hotels and Restaurants Association have insisted the new rule is aimed at cleaning up Paceville's act to improve the island's image, comments predicted a detrimental effect on the industry.
Malta was competing with other summer destinations, such as Ibiza, where nightlife was "wilder", and other "draconian measures", such as clubs closing at 4 a.m., were scaring away tourists, who were told Malta was a party island.
But the industry perceives the matter from the completely opposite point of view. Mr Formosa Gauci insisted that in other countries, people do not drink on doorsteps, in the middle of the road and on pavements.
"Bars that have outside tables and chairs on their parapets are more than free to continue operating; we just want to stop those running around drunk with bottles in the streets," he insisted.
A bottle shop, he explained, has the licence of a confectionary, allowing it to sell alcohol until 9 p.m. "The bye-law is not going to change anything. If they want to become bars, there is no problem. They just need the space inside and the appropriate facilities."
Mr Fenech also denied that the move was a "smokescreen" in favour of clubs and bars, saying some bottle shop owners were also GRTU members.
He reiterated that the bye-law was aimed at conditioning consumer behaviour patterns, which saw youths drinking - and even vomiting - on car bonnets, private porches and outside hotels.
"The problem is not the selling of alcohol from bottle shops; people gravitate with alcohol even between bars and nightclubs... The confectioners should not be affected if they are abiding by the law," he said.
Mr Fenech also denied that all alcoholic beverages in Paceville bars and clubs were "scandalously" expensive. The market varied, he said, depending on location, investment, the service and the sort of a crowd the club attracted, with many offering vouchers for cheap deals.
"The point is that, at the end of a night, Paceville looks like the aftermath of a concert, with the leftovers of bottles and glass," he said, referring to the environmental aspect of drinking in the streets.
Mr Fenech insisted that the issue did not start from the GRTU, but from the two committees that looked into complaints from tourists, residents and other Maltese. They had observed that those drinking in such pockets were young - possibly underage.
"Who would want to spend a night sitting on a pavement drinking alcohol if not kids? No adult would find that amusing," he said, highlighting that the ban was also targeting underage drinking.
Those in favour also pointed out in their comments on the website that the negative reactions were mainly posted by underage youths, who appeared to be most affected by the law.
Although they agreed with it, some, however, were not convinced of its enforcement, likening the situation to the smoking ban, which was described as a "farce".
In fact, the crafty Maltese have already found a way to drink alcohol undetected: storing alcoholic drinks in plastic containers of non-alcoholic beverages. They could even end up drinking in the areas that are not on the list of Paceville streets where alcohol, or beverages in glass containers cannot be consumed.
Enforcement would by no means be an easy task and was not foolproof, both the MTA and the GRTU concurred, advocating a practical approach. After all, where is the line drawn in bars that have outdoor areas, with patrons spilling onto the streets?
"People will find a way around every law, but if we manage to control a big part of it, it is already something," Mr Formosa Gauci said.
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26 Comments
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Joseph W. Galea
May 17th 2011, 01:00
The consumption of alcohol in the streets should be banned everywhere and at every occasion.
Furthermore, 16 year olds should have a curfew that will see them home and in bed by 11 o'clock at night.
maria psaila
Nov 10th 2008, 19:43
I ALSO JUST TURNED 16, AND NOW THE LAW CHANGES?!?!! I HAVE BEEN WAITING TO FINALLY BE LEGAL FOR AGES!!!!! WHO'S FAULT IS IT THAT PEOPLE WALK AROUND WITH CHEAP ALCOHOLIC DRINKS IN THEIR HANDS?! MAYBE THE CLUBS SHOULD SELL CHEAPER DRINKS!!!!!
IF PACEVILLE IS AN EYE SORE, ISN'T ALL MALTA?!?!?! PACEVILLE IS THE BIGGEST TOURIST ATTRACTION..... HAVE U EVER THOUGHT ABOUT HOW TOURISM IS GOING TO BE AFFECTED?! WHERE ELSE DO U EXPECT MALTESE TEENAGERS TO GO OUT AT THE WEEKEND??? WE ARE NOT LIVING IN THE 1920'S !!!!!!
AND IF ALCOHOL IS 17+ , DOES THAT ALSO MEAN THAT CLUBS WILL BE 17+ TOO ?!?!?!?!??!!?!!??!!?!??!?!!
Sandra Tabone
Nov 10th 2008, 18:52
This article doesn't make any sense to me !!!
kids are still gonna get drunk no matter what you do! and if you ban alcohol there might be something new that will be taken instead!
Nicholas Galea
Nov 4th 2008, 19:33
i finally became 16...now alcohol is banned...this will probably ban other people my age from entering night clubs...i'm not sure about this though...
i think people my age can control how much alcohol we drink alcohol not controlled by others. we all know what happens when we drink too much, we've either experienced it or seen it happen to friends or strangers. we should decide for our selves. if i dont want to look bad and feel sick then i know i should know my limits. others can make a fool out of themselves all they want...if they learn something, good...if they dont then its up to them, its their health after all...
Jean Marie Darmanin
Aug 17th 2008, 10:55
when i see that sign i have picture of underage kids drinking alcohol under the sign. isn't it funny? banning alcohol isn't a solution. but this part of the article struck me: ""Who would want to spend a night sitting on a pavement drinking alcohol if not kids? No adult would find that amusing," he said". i am an adult and let me tell you this, paceville isn;t amusing my friend and nobody is trying to make it appealing but still the bars want people to come. also why all the bars have excessive sound levels? they aren't clubs you can't talk in bars anymore. let us not go into the price part because mr fenech says they aren't expensive. as long you aren't annoying anybody i don't feel you can't drink in the street. the problem is that the underaged are growing badly and instead of giving them an alternative we are telling them "hey don't drink on the street, give all your pocket money to the bars (cuz they get alcohol from there still) become drunk as normal but spend more". Funny indeed isn't it?
Jeremy J Camilleri
Aug 16th 2008, 14:31
perhaps the bars and nightclubs should lower their exorbitant prices...that would solve the problem of youths drinking in the streets....
Whilst daylight robbery doesn't sound right for a night spot..I think you all know what I mean.
Night clubs even close down the cold water taps and then charge hell for a bottle of water...
Faye Alamango
Aug 16th 2008, 13:36
Banning Alcohol in Paceville or in the whole of Malta, will only promote underground production and sales. Any banned substance by human nature instantly becomes desirable.
The effect of banning alcohol would have many negative connotations, for instance a loss of tax revenue for the Government, the rise of unemployment due to premises being closed that rely on alcohol sales and the massive decrease in Tourism revenue.
On top of all this, there is the question of free will. Anyone who wants to practice abstinence has the right to do so. Who has the right to take away my choice to drink alcohol?
IS MALTA ABOUT TO BECOME A POLICE STATE?......IF WE ALLOW THIS WHAT IS NEXT?
Joseph G. Pace
Aug 16th 2008, 00:13
People who live in glass houses .......
While hotels in the Paceville area are gladly accepting foreign students in their rooms and bars by their scores to the detriment of other guests (money before 'product Malta' I guess), their (ex)representatives/spokesmen look down on those same students when they see them enjoying themselves (for much cheaper) on the streets of Paceville.
Perhaps this newly-found inspiration for greater law & order will also lead the government to stop the 'illegal' subsidy of water & electricity rates to these hotels (such a practice is not allowed by EU rules). This would be a step in the direction of reinstating a level playing field, or in other terms, fairer competition, between all the players in the Paceville area market. The government does not have to ban such a subsidy - it is already banned by the EU.
Denis Catania
Aug 15th 2008, 23:40
I thank the government for listening to thier cries. Can you listen to our cries on the illegal immigration issue too, PLEASE.
L Darlow
Aug 15th 2008, 20:34
"Those in favour also pointed out in their comments on the website that the negative reactions were mainly posted by underage youths," As many of the people who commented in the previous article stated their age as 20+, this seems to be a little incorrect, maybe the editor was refering to my comment where i sarcastically congratulated the times on having so many young readers. However young readers need not fear this law too much as half the venues in paceville don't seem to concern themselves with little laws such as no under 16s and no smoking, Recently i spotted a group who were no older than 12 in a venue smoking a shisha pipe. So now all those over 16 have a choice, drink with 12 year olds in a smoky environment or enjoy a plastic cup of water (and make sure its only water) on the street . Just how a tourist wants to spend their evening,
WJ Gatt
Aug 15th 2008, 19:29
Dear Mr. Formosa Gauci, If you really want the place to improve, I would suggest imposing stricter requirements on clubs - you can start with their toilets. They're a mess; the stench and the puddles of urine are completely unacceptable. Strangely enough there is no mention of people urinating in the streets. The public toilets there have been closed - why? You cannot really enforce something without setting an example; its called credibility. On drinks becoming cheaper at clubs in an effort to draw the crowd away from the confectioners - What incentive will bars/clubs have if they are given monopolistic advantage? The MTA should really be focusing on the smoking that still carries on inside clubs - that is one of Paceville's 'biggest problems'. My drunkeness only becomes a threat to the public at a certain level; smoke is a threat at any amount.
Robert Agius
Aug 15th 2008, 18:23
@ Edward Bonnici
Sorry to hear! Many health freaks (young ones too) receive bad news too unfortunately. anybody is free not to drink after all (or smoke). Love of fate is the law i live by, for good and for bad. I don't think its fair for you to now to be critic of you past. Its easy to forget the nice times in dark periods or to blame it on 1 or 2 thinks such as smoke and drink. Today's lifestyle is indeed very unhealthy but the problems are far from being simply drinking and smoking. Once again, sorry to hear about you story but I think everyone should be responsible, and take responsibility for oneself.
Nik Xuereb Conti
Aug 15th 2008, 17:55
@ P.Scicluna - Like I said, but you seem to have ignored my statement, holiday makers should research in what locality the hotel is situated. If they are looking for something quite they should avoid Paceville. I fail to understand why you say it’s MY entertainment area; I am merely making a point. You say Paceville was a peaceful place, I know this as relatives of mine lived in the area long before any bars or club, however unfortunately this is the way with building development. I hope you do realise that there is no other alternative to Paceville and by micro managing this region one is only adding to the frustration of people who have less places to entertain themselves. This inevitably escalates into uncontrolled and illegal entertainment which is where the real problems start.
P.Scicluna
Aug 15th 2008, 17:16
Nik.Xuereb Conti. Surely Paceville is not a library but it is an area uncontrolled, with sound pollutions that goes beyond the established standards of EU. you right that Paceville is the entertainment area of Malta. But no one has the right to steal away business from Hotels. We have hotels that were built much before YOUR entertainment area existed. So these Hotel now have to be demolished? This area was peaceful , and suddenly uncontrolled bar owners or I should say bar owners who do what ever they want started poluted this area with Noise. We never heared GRTU, MHRA or any Mr Formosa Gauci saying that they are going to do something. Philip Fenech 's mission was only to control alcohol............what about sound pollution Mr Fenech ? This has to be addressed, Amsterdam,Ibiza, Barcellona,Toarmina, Rimini, they are all entertainment areas and they entertain millions of people, its true that rarely you see any one drinking alcohol on the streets , but also sound pollution is control. How about this now Mr Formosa ?
Edward Bonnici
Aug 15th 2008, 16:53
@ Robert Agius
I am glad that you mentioned your age. I am old enough to be your grand father, but I still look young mind you :P
While I wish you all the good health, I just would like to tell you something:
It takes us longer time to discover how many disease we have. When we are healthy we do not see or think about this things.
I used to be smoke and smoke and I say to myself, every thing seems fine. Only 5 years ago i received the bad news. It was too late my friend.
Now, I wish to have found some one to make me stop smoking.
By no mean I am tying to sound tragedy, my son-in-law passed away last year because of Alcohol.
Wish you, and all Good health
Nik Xuereb Conti
Aug 15th 2008, 16:48
As students we always bought cheap booze from bottle shops and were never refused sale although most of us looked fairly young. We'd drink on the street as one is obviously not allowed to consume it inside a private venue. Rarely one would see a couple of police officers walking down the street, occasionally they'd ask us to move off the street. I can not recall ever being questioned about our age or name of the vendor that supplied us with the alcohol. Kids will be kids; they'll always find some other corner, street, house or park to drink. The booze will always be available to them since most bottle shop owners still sell to minors especially around St.Julains and Paceville! That’s the main problem here. It has nothing to do with Paceville or any laws regarding drinking outdoors.
Nik Xuereb Conti
Aug 15th 2008, 16:31
@ P.Scicluna - What do you expect? Paceville is an entertainment center not a library. Its one of the few places on the Island where people can out to for a night out. Before booking a hotel one always checks what kind of area its in, its only common sense. Would you book a hotel having no clue where it is??? So no music now also? Tourists will love that! Maybe we could have a silent disco... PS: dont foget to bring your headphones!
Robert Agius
Aug 15th 2008, 16:21
what's so odd about drinking on pavements, I do it all the time (I'm 29 btw). You can actually hold a conversation there and have more amusing view than this inside of the bar or club for sure (especially at places like BJ's which still looked the same last time I went as it was the 1st time it opened :P). What is so amusing about the inside of a club or bar anyway?
'Mr Formosa Gauci insisted that in other countries, people do not drink on doorsteps, in the middle of the road and on pavements.' - where have you been mate? stuck in some 5 star hotel. Guess you need to go around more often.
HAHAHAHAHAHAH image of malta!!! Have these people been around the island???? cranes, concrete, etc. everywhere you go. I'm sure PV is the main eyesore. Yeah right!!!
@Edward Bonnici
How fortunate that few people like you exist! I've been drinking alcohol for years now and I never had any problems, or caused any for that matter.
Joseph G. Pace
Aug 15th 2008, 15:30
And, to add insult to injury, we are today informed (through the newspaper, of course) that Paceville is a pilot project.
So, in the meantime, it will not be harmful to anyone if people go boozing in neighbouring Swieqi, Sliema, San Gwann .... Bugibba, the Valletta Waterfront, etc etc. The village 'festas', the ad hoc street parties, the Isle of MTV, the beer & wine festivals, the beaches out of St Julian's area, are all ok!!!
One may impose these bans in Paceville, but getting anyone with a little common sense to believe for a minute the reasons being given for them is rather unlikely.
If the authorities are certain of what they are advocating and doing, then a nationwide ban should be introduced forthwith and without the delays that will cause even more harm and damage (both physical & financial).
Joseph G. Pace
Aug 15th 2008, 15:07
IvTanti correctly highlighted MrFenech's scandalous dual role as barowner and GRTUman incharge of this move!! Surely just like other countries allegedly ban alcohol as stated by MrFenech & MrFormosaGauci, similarly they must surely ban blatant conflicts of interest such as these.
Was it not this same GRTU spokesman who was strongly advocating, a couple of years ago, that a ban on smoking in public places was not good for (his) business? Was the health of youngsters not an important issue then?
I am both a 'bottleshop' and a pub owner. I have never, at anytime been contacted, let alone, involved in any discussions on ths very important issue which affects me both personally and from a business point of view. Having invested considerably on the back of a licence granted to my business by the Government allowing me to sell alcohol responsibly past the hour of 9pm in the first place, I believe the manner in which everything was done stealthily is unfair, shameful and damaging to my business.
In today's EU Malta, businessmen like me get to know of these decisions retroactively when reading the morning newspapers!!! No wonder 'product Malta' is seen in of dire need of improvement.
P.Scicluna
Aug 15th 2008, 15:05
Its a good idea. . But I think the biggest problem facing Paceville is not alcohol but noise. We are loosing thousands of tourists who will not come back . Hotels in the area of Paceville especially Santa Rita steps are refunding a lot of money to unsatisfied clients. The authorities have the power to control amplified music, but it seems that they are imune infront of this situation. Now we are having speakers in the terraces, as it is not enough to have music inside. The Prim Minister as minister of Tourism should enforce the regulations.I am not against music till 4 am, but this has to be controlled, I also believe that bar owners have to make a living but so Hotel, flat owners and residents of Paceville. It seems that for some association rappresentatives only alcahol is bad in paceville. The problem of Noise should be addresses at once. Few years ago the than Minister of Tourism said that they are going to make a devise with electrical meter so if sounds goes high this will go off and leave establishment without electricity. But it seems that the lobby of bar owners was much stronger.
Edward Bonnici
Aug 15th 2008, 14:36
A Saudi Arabia connection
Alcoholic and drinking:
Many European Governments no longer afford to squander money to alleviate alcoholic related problems. A case in point is Britain; alcoholic health hazardous is costing the British government a fortune yearly.
We may soon, even in Malta have laws that ban producing alcohol. Alike what is happening presently with cigarettes and drugs.
Why wonder? Many peoples have been smoking and knowing the health hazardous of smoking for decades. Why suddenly every corner has turned to no-smoking area? Laws came into force only after governments could not cope anymore with smoking-related problems. Same thing may happen when governments no longer are in a position to spend money on Alcoholic-related disease.
Why Islam ban alcohol?
Once I had discussions with a Muslim friend while working in Saudi Arabia (back to 1983) and he was telling me that drinking alcohol can only cause harms. First, I laughed at my friend, but now now, I think my friend proved right.
I personally wish a total ban of alcohol industry
Kevin Carbonaro
Aug 15th 2008, 13:28
Although I think it's great that they are finally trying to address this problem, I think it is not addressing it completely.
What they forgot is that now, increasingly, these young people (who many times will have friends over 18 with an available car), will get drunk in another village, then drive carelessly to Paceville, risking injuring and possibly killing someone along the way.
What they should do instead is start fining those who are littering the area with bottles and vomit and partly eaten food.
By the way, never heard of education??? Start educating these young people that they can also enjoy themselves without getting drunk or at least getting too much drunk!
Nik Xuereb Conti
Aug 15th 2008, 12:06
Part2/2
I say more control on the bottle shops. By law minors are not be allowed in any establishment that’s serves alcohol in Paceville and so they can not purchase any alcohol (at least that’s the idea!). This way minors have no or little access to alcohol and adults can still enjoy a drink under the stars. So please Mr.Formosa stop being a buzz kill and analyse the problem in a proper and efficient manner.
Nik Xuereb Conti
Aug 15th 2008, 12:06
Part1/2
"Mr Formosa Gauci insisted that in other countries, people do not drink on doorsteps, in the middle of the road and on pavements"
I suggest that Mr Formosa oat to start leaving Malta once in a while. It is clear that after uttering such a statement he has never left the Island. Most countries with good weather enjoy an outdoors social life and consumption of alcohol on the streets does occur.
Under age drinking is around and will always be around no matter what law. One must follow the issue to its root. Underage drinkers only manage to acquire alcohol because of the lack of control on the bottle shops. The bottle shop owners are the ones truly responsible. With no conscious or moral values they supply alcohol to the minors. These people rake in loads of cash each night knowing perfectly well that their customers are underage.
Who's to blame? A 14 year old kid or the "Mature" Bottle Shop owner?
Paul Barrett
Aug 15th 2008, 10:35
Paceville.
You can't smoke, you can't drink and if they ban the eating of hay, it will become a place unfit for man or beast.