People in Malta are overwhelmingly in favour of the minimum drinking age being raised to 18. This was, possibly, the most significant of a number of facts regarding the relationship between the Maltese and alcohol revealed by a recent Eurobarometer survey (see http://ec.europa.eu/public_opinion/archives/ebs/ebs_331_en.pdf ).
No fewer than 93 per cent of the Maltese are in favour of revising the age upwards from the current standard of 17. Most citizens of the EU are of the view that alcohol should be consumed only by those over 18 of age; 89 per cent of them have voiced their agreement to the proposal that selling and serving alcohol to persons under 18 should be banned.
While the level of support for this measure is extremely high, observers of the local scene were not very surprised at the extent of the segment in favour of raising the age to 18. Already in October 2005, a local survey, published in The Sunday Times, had shown that almost 80 per cent of young people aged 16-25 were in favour of establishing the minimum drinking age at 18.
These facts indicate that Sedqa's efforts over the past 15 years to raise awareness about the dangers of alcohol consumption by young people, whose bodies and personalities are not yet fully developed, have yielded results beyond our most optimistic expectations. Alcohol interferes with normal biological and psychological growth and produces distortions that translate into problematic behaviour and difficult relations.
Espad, a survey on young people and substance abuse carried out in virtually all European countries, has repeatedly shown that our 15-16 year-olds rank very highly among those who consume excessive amounts of alcohol on a regular basis. These drinking patterns are dangerous enough in themselves but also carry in their wake a raft of attendant behaviours and effects like unprotected sex, aggression and poor academic performance, which are transforming adolescence into a danger zone: the danger of hurting oneself, the danger of premature parenthood, the danger of contracting a sexually-transmitted disease, the danger of ruining one's life-chances.
The legislative measures taken in 2007 and 2009, which established a minimum drinking-age at 16, then raised it to 17, may go quite some way in attenuating the problem. It is now illegal for young people under 17 to purchase alcohol or consume it in a public place just as it is illegal to sell it to them or to supply it in any other way in a public place. However, only after the next Espad in 2011 will we have an indication of whether the changes in legislation are having the desired effect.
From the Eurobarometer study, one can glean other useful and interesting nuggets of information.
With regard to drink-driving, for example, only one per cent of the Maltese are aware of the legally-permissible level of alcohol in the blood for driving purposes (the Italians and the Cypriots managed to score exactly zero per cent). While the Czechs were the most knowledgeable in this regard, only 27 per cent of EU citizens knew what the legal maximum level in their country was.
Worrying? Perhaps. What is certainly far preoccupying is that of all EU citizens, the Maltese are the least aware of how many drinks one can consume before driving. Only a paltry two per cent answered that no alcohol should be consumed before driving while 43 per cent, co-topping the tables with the Portuguese, said they did not know. Education in this regard, obviously emphasising that even small amounts of alcohol affect reflexes, judgment and vision, appears to be necessary, utilising innovative and effective media.
More important would be the changing of legislation in such a way as to permit random breathalyser testing and lowering the permissible level of alcohol in the blood. The Eurobarometer survey indicated that no fewer than 94 per cent of Maltese citizens - the largest proportion in the whole EU - are in favour of random testing for drivers. We still allow the highest level of alcohol in the blood in the EU - 80mgs of alcohol per decilitre of blood - but the survey shows that 71 per cent of Maltese favour lowering the level to just 20mgs of alcohol/decilitre of blood for young and novice drivers across the EU. All this indicates that there is a high level of awareness of the dangers of drink-driving and of the measures that can effectively curb abuse and reduce fatal accidents.
More than three-quarters of EU citizens, and 81 per cent of the Maltese, are in favour of doing away with all alcohol advertising aimed at young people under the age of 18, in keeping with the very widespread view that alcohol and the under 18s do not mix. This is highly encouraging for those of us who have long been urging law-makers to prohibit all forms of advertising designed to entice young people to consume alcohol. The message society should be allowing to be transmitted should be clear and consistent: alcohol in small amounts is fine for most adults but it is not suitable for those who have not yet attained physical maturity.
This Eurobarometer study has revealed that, perhaps contrary to popular perception, the attitudes of the Maltese with regard to alcohol in crucial policy areas are consistent with the advice usually imparted by experts and health authorities. Law makers may get down to the business of regulating alcohol consumption, safe in the knowledge that public opinion is solidly behind them.
Aġenzija Sedqa is part of the Foundation for Social Welfare Services, which also incorporates Aġenzija Appoġġ and Aġenzija Sapport. For further information about Aġenzija Sedqa and its services, one may visit www.sedqa.gov.mt or call on 2295 9110. Persons with a substance abuse and/or gambling problem may call on the 24-hour Supportline 179.
The author is community services manager at Sedqa.