Alcoholism cost a man his marriage after a court found that his drinking problem had clouded his perception of married life when he took his vows.

The man's drinking habit, which led to him beating his wife, did not allow him to build the "community of love and life" required from marriage.

The Family Court also noted that the wife too did not fully comprehend the values of marriage because she got married when she knew that her husband drank and got violent.

Mr Justice Noel Cuschieri heard how the couple got married the day she turned 18 in 2000. At the time he was 23. They had known each other for about three years before they tied the knot and moved in together about six months before the wedding.

The woman testified that both before and after the marriage her partner returned home drunk and beat her up. But she had ignored her father's warning and went ahead with the wedding.

The court ruled that the man was unable to live with the wife because his drinking habit impeded the establishment of "a community of love and life" with her.

The woman too was unaware of the responsibilities of married life, so the marriage was annulled.