The conclusions of the draft Health Systems Performance Assessment – the first nationwide check-up of Malta’s health system – highlight that binge drinking is a worrying new phenomenon and that there is a “dire need” for an alcohol policy to be introduced to deal with it.

This assessment should come as no surprise. The World Health Organisation published its ‘Global Status Report on Alcohol and Health’ last year, which showed the trends in Malta. Although WHO found that the Maltese consumed only seven litres of pure alcohol each year – well below the European average – the most worrying aspect of the report concerned alcohol abuse among 16-year olds, where it appeared to be rampant. Malta ranked second among 36 countries for binge-drinking.

Alcohol consumption not only leads to dependence but also increases the risk of developing more than 200 diseases, including liver cirrhosis and some cancers. Moreover, alcohol abuse can lead to violence and crime.

The battle to tackle anti-social drinking in modern, more affluent societies like ours has to start early if it is to be successful. Anybody wishing to see the daily effects of alcohol misuse among young people needs only to stroll down Paceville any summer or winter Friday or Saturday night to do so. It is reported that one in 10 people aged 15 to 34 are knocking back six or seven ‘units’ (each is equivalent to half a pint of beer or a glass of wine) or more in one session.

Both the WHO report and the Health Systems Performance Assessment have stressed that Malta has no national policy on alcohol consumption. The lack of such a policy could well be storing up significant health and social problems for the future. The question therefore is: should there be a national policy and if so what should it consist of?

Interviewed by this newspaper, two academics made a number of proposals ranging from the practical to the well-meaning. Measures could include raising tax on alcohol and banning ‘special offers’. The number of retail outlets and the sale of alcohol at others, such as supermarkets, should also be strictly regulated and limited.

The abuse of sales to underage people should be controlled and more spot-checks undertaken in bars and places of entertainment. Lack of enforcement of the law increased the availability of alcohol to young people.

Within these random first comments there may be the makings of an outline alcohol policy. But it would be fair to point out that any policy on any matter cannot be developed in isolation. The fiscal implications of changes to alcohol taxes are a case in point.

While applying heavy taxes to alcohol may be a good way of increasing government revenue, there is no evidence to support that, on its own, it reduces abusive alcohol consumption. In Malta, with its not insignificant wine- and beer-making industries and its attraction as a tourist destination, the unintended consequences of such measures could be nugatory.

That there should be stronger measures to stop children from being served alcohol in bars and restaurants is acknowledged by everybody but does not amount to new policy. Concerted preventive health campaigns and education about the harm of alcohol abuse to bring home to young people the long-term effects is also no new policy.

In both cases it is – as with most problems in Malta – a simple matter of doing what successive governments have decreed they would do. But did not.

Sign up to our free newsletters

Get the best updates straight to your inbox:
Please select at least one mailing list.

You can unsubscribe at any time by clicking the link in the footer of our emails. We use Mailchimp as our marketing platform. By subscribing, you acknowledge that your information will be transferred to Mailchimp for processing.