Group sees sense in random breathalyser tests

Drink awareness organisation The Sense Group has given its “full backing” to the proposal for random breathalyser tests made by Sedqa.

The organisation, backed by producers and importers of alcoholic beverages in Malta, said it supported “any action by the police to ensure road safety”, adding it had long been calling for enforcement of current legislation against alcohol abuse.

Government substance abuse agency Sedqa has called for the police to be given more powers to administer breathalyser tests beyond being restricted to those drivers who raise suspicions of being drunk at the wheel. The government has said it is studying the proposal but has not committed itself to it.

Meanwhile, TSG appealed to the government to hold talks with “all stakeholders” before the adoption of any national alcohol policy, which is another proposal made by Sedqa in the light of what it says is a growing incidence of alcohol abuse.

The group said the industry had to be consulted before any decisions were taken.

It also warned against the “demonisation” of alcohol by lobby groups who wanted to further their agenda of legalising illegal drugs.

“Spreading the perception that consuming beer, wine or spirits responsibly is more dangerous than injecting heroin is irresponsible and leads to social disaster. It is for this reason that dialogue and a solid consultation process is required to find the best solutions in the national interest,” the group said.

Last month, former UK government drug adviser David Nutt presented findings which suggested that although heroin and crack cocaine cause the most individual harm, alcohol tops the list when wider social effects are taken into consideration.