As the government plans to “harmonise” complex and draconian alcohol sale laws, concert organisers are seeking ways to sell alcohol during the summer season.

The issue came to the fore last April when, in an unprecedented swoop, the police decided to stop alcohol sales during a concert by British singer James Blunt. The police interpreted a 1995 legal notice banning the sale of alcohol where minors are present as also applying to a concert venue.

The organisers of a concert featuring Italian artist Zucchero – scheduled for July 30 – are circumventing the potential brush with the law by not selling tickets to anyone under 17 years, so as not to have any difficulty stocking the bars with alcohol.

But concert organisers NnG Promotions are taking a different approach, on grounds that mi-nors should not be banned from events, such as the Joseph Calleja concert being held on Saturday, which aims to bring opera to young people.

Instead, promoter Nigel Camilleri explained, the organisers of the concert being held at the Granaries in Floriana will attempt to fall into line with the interpretation of the law adopted by the police during last Thursday’s Isle of MTV party.

Since the MTV party was a free, public event (like village feasts) it does not fall into the same legal category as the paid-for outdoor concerts. Therefore, alcohol was sold from kiosks in the street and each vendor was responsible for not serving to minors.

“But there were also elevated segregated areas serving alcohol which were ticketed by invitation and where minors were not allowed,” Dr Camilleri said, as he plans to adopt a similar concept for Saturday’s concert and the Carlos Santana concert on July 24.

“I assume we could do the same thing... otherwise it would be discriminatory to my mind. But we have to see what the police will do,” Dr Camilleri said.

He added that this was a system which NnG Promotions had proposed during the James Blunt concert but the Valletta Waterfront was not an appropriate venue to have separate bar spaces.

However, NnG Promotions is ultimately hoping the authorities will settle the matter before the concert, in line with assurances that have been made.

He insists that at a “controlled event” like a concert – where people are not allowed to bring in their own alcohol – the onus should be on the organisers and bar operators to ensure no alcohol is served to minors.

But the organisers should not be forced to choose between allowing minors to attend and stocking bars with alcohol Meanwhile, a government source told The Sunday Times that alcohol laws have recently become complex because of initiatives taken by various ministries. “We will issue a new legal notice in the short-term to harmonise the various regulations and sort out the problems.”

However, there is no deadline in place and it is still unclear how the government plans to resolve the issue.