Concern over rise in binge drinking

A major part of the problem of sexual indiscretion and liberalism in Malta is related to binge drinking, it emerges from the National Sexual Health Policy being launched today after 11 years.

Health Minister Joe Cassar, who yesterday presented a taste of the long-awaited policy, said a strategy was necessary to address the problem.

“No matter how many condom machines the country has, when someone is heavily inebriated, under the influence of alcohol and drugs, that person is semi-conscious of what is going on. The question is: Why are our older teens indulging in bingeing?”

Dr Cassar was delivering the opening speech of a two-day seminar on Addictions, organised by the Maltese Association of Psychiatric Nurses in collaboration with the Malta Association of Psychiatric Trainees at the Dolmen Resort Hotel, in Qawra. The seminar is being held in the wake of the recently published World Drug Report that indicated Malta has the eighth highest estimated level of problem drug use in the EU.

The subject of binge drinking was raised again by Health Promotion Unit head Marianne Massa, who questioned why the Maltese drink so much alcohol and whether it was a nation of drinkers.

According to the last Health Behaviour of School Aged Children Study – the next is due to be published shortly – 15 per cent of girls and 18 per cent of boys under 15 consume alcohol.

Many had their first drink at home and Ms Massa was looking forward to the “different” findings in the latest World Health Organisation survey on where they had their first drink, seeing as it was carried out after the minimum legal drinking age was introduced.

The minimum drinking age had not yet been internalised by the population, despite the promotional campaigns, and the public was not really aware of it, especially the older generations, Ms Massa said.

Young adults, who were also parents, commonly – and surprisingly –asked why they could not offer their child a drink in the safety of their home, she pointed out.

Binge drinking in Malta was a relatively new concept, which was, however, growing steadily. It was definitely not part of the Mediterranean, wine-drinking culture the Maltese had adopted but have now far exceeded, with the binge-drinking pattern becoming the norm, she said.

Through a focus group with young adults, aged between 30 and 40, it appeared that binge drinking was common practice and a predominant feature of their social life, based on meeting up in their homes every weekend and just consuming alcohol “to quite an extent” with friends and family. This age group even had the money to do it, Ms Massa said of the growing problem.

A repeated question that emerged from the focus group of 30- to 40-year-olds was: “What can we do on a Saturday night if not go out drinking?” The trend, Ms Massa said, was also extending to other days of the week and young adults needed alternative activities, which were not being addressed.

It was not easy to lay the solutions on the table and Ms Massa was mostly “triggering food for thought”, saying the Health Promotion Unit encouraged a two-way approach that targeted both the individuals and their entire environment.

The community had to be supportive; daily living conditions had to be improved for everyone; the inequitable distribution of power and money tackled; and the minimum wage good enough to lead a decent life and cope with its situations.

The question was: What can we do on a social level so that people can live better?

Ms Massa welcomed the US Food and Drug Administration’s plan to ban energy drinks, mixed with alcohol, an issue raised by the floor.

“We would love to ban their importation locally,” she said, pointing out that their consumption started at 17. “That is how these youths are celebrating their 17th birthday!”