Sedqa, the agency for the prevention of drug and alcohol abuse, welcomed the coming into effect of a legal notice prohibiting confectionaries selling alcoholic beverages after 9 p.m,.

It said that according to the 2007 European School Survey Project on Alcohol and other Drugs, 20 per cent of Maltese respondents claimed they drank frequently, while the average in Europe was 11 per cent.

The agency said it believed the legal notice would significantly help reduce binge drinking especially among the younger generation, since alcohol would be less available.

Various studies have established a strong correlation between alcohol abuse, availability and pricing policies of alcohol.

Controlling the availability of alcohol was part of the solution, it said.

It noted that, even though illegal, alcohol consumption on certain streets was still common in entertainment areas, especially in weekends, despite various efforts to control it.

Sedqa hoped this measure would be one of a series aimed at restricting the availability of alcohol as recommended by international health organisations.

Both the World Health Organisation and the Health and Consumer Affairs Directorate of the EU advised that the reduction of availability should be considered as a pillar of alcohol policies aimed at enhancing the well-being of communities.

It said it was important for the regulations to be dutifully and consistently enforced.