What we eat and drink is all the rage. It has been so over the past few years and is set to be so for many years to come. When it comes to alcohol consumption the issue of misuse is all the more challenging and critical to the very core of society.
Malta’s ranking in the World Health Organisation’s 2014 Global Status Report on Alcohol and Health in the lower segment at seven litres per capita consumption of pure alcohol is one that we, as a country, should be happy with. In fact, in this case, the closer we are to the bottom, the better.
It comes at no real surprise to us at The Sense Group because we have been aware of this for many years and always focused on maintaining a culture of mod-eration when it comes to alcohol consumption, as, in fact, is reflected in this WHO ranking.
It is also not surprising that Italy, the ultimate champion of the Unesco-protected Mediterranean Diet heritage, should place last. And there lies the crux of it.
Alcohol consumption cannot be taken in isolation if one seeks a long-term sustainable solution but needs to be a critical pillar for a population approach to its total daily diet. There is a massive difference between cultures that see alcohol consumption as a paced social practice, primarily accompanying food, and those who see it as a means of escape or bravado.
It is true that an alcohol policy is badly needed and The Sense Group has already made its views clear to the authorities on the draft that was submitted two years ago. However, we are under no illusion that a number of quick fixes will solve the rising negative trends among particular sections of our youth population. Fiscal measures, for example, rarely have long-term effect. Take the irony of the Scandinavian countries with the costliest alcoholic drinks and, yet, the highest youth binge drinking statistics are in their domain. Their real challenge is in the culture of entrenched attitudes to alcohol, consumed excessively to deliver social fulfilment.
Our future adults must exercise control over their lives, not have it controlled for them
Neither does raising age limits work. In Malta, this was raised from 16 to 17 years a few years ago with no real tangible positive results. You can imagine how much tougher it will be to enforce it on 17-year-olds if the limit is raised again to 18.
Faced with a challenge to satisfy their inherent desire to explore what adult life has to offer , young people can and will overcome obstacles with extra relish, making the experience even more exciting. The danger then lies in alcoholic consumption going ‘underground’, where it is virtually impossible to control. Of course, everyone would be very pleased that we would have done the right thing and that we would be in full control of our youths’ behaviour. It is wishful thinking.
The real place to tackle the issue of sustaining the level of alcohol consumption at an acceptable level is in schools and homes. True, it takes longer to manage and achieve but it also has longer-term positive effects.
In a very comprehensive motion for a European Parliament resolution on ‘European gastronomic heritage: cultural and educational aspects’ last February, it is clearly stated that “childhood is a decisive period in terms of providing education in healthy behaviour… school is an area in which effective action can be taken to shape healthy long-term behaviour in future generations”.
It continuous to stress that “information, education and awareness-raising form part of the EU strategy to support member states in reducing alcohol-related harm”.
In our website, www.drinkawaremalta.com, the role of parents and the family approach to alcohol education is given great importance.
A stronger and more incisive strategy to create a more active family ambience when it comes to alcohol is badly needed. Leading our future adults to take the road of moderation is about mentoring them to exercise control over their lives not about having it controlled for them.
Ray Grech is director general of The Sense Group