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local
news
One
for the road
Most
of us have had a little too much to drink at one time or another.
But, as adults, we make our decisions and take the consequences.
Is the same true for teenagers and is enough done to discourage
them from alcohol abuse? Nadine Brincat investigates…
By
Nadine Brincat
Shall we go out for a drink?
It is one of the most commonly heard phrases when planning our social
life.
Let's be honest, who doesn't enjoy a glass of wine with friends,
a beer with the guys, or a whisky to toast a cousin's wedding?
But too much of anything is bad for you, as the saying goes, and
most of us would admit, if pressed, that we have over-indulged with
drink on more than one occasion.
We might nurse a hangover the morning after and vow never to do
it again, and, as adults, we may even be wise before the event,
staggering our alcohol intake carefully.
But drink is big business, advertising campaigns are clever and
peer pressure is great.
Perhaps the greatest concern where alcohol misuse or abuse are concerned
is the younger generation, which is undoubtedly the most susceptible
to advertising and also the most vulnerable to the effects of drinking
too much.
Most parents have a nightmare vision of their teenager rolling around
in a Paceville gutter at the end of the night, or becoming embroiled
in a fight triggered by alcohol-induced aggression.
They might warn their children about the damaging repercussions
of drinking too much, but they also rely on their son and daughter
resisting peer pressure. And, just as importantly, they will also
be hoping that the barman at the outlet will have the ethics and
morals not to take any more money off their children for drink.
This last point is a critical one, and a point that the Maltese
Bartenders Guild, the Sense Group and the Association of General
Retailers and Traders are well aware of.
In fact the parties - all major players in the local alcohol industry
-have come up with a code of practice for outlets serving alcoholic
beverages and make it clear that drink should not be served to people
that have evidently had enough, are underage, or are holding car
keys.
The code highlights the need to find a balance between contributing
to social wellbeing by providing venues for socialising and entertainment,
while respecting certain ethical guidelines.
Sounds like a good idea, but is it working?
Just how does Malta compare to other countries when it comes to
teenage drinking?
Research on consumption of alcoholic beverages
A study by World Drink Trends, published last year, placed Malta
among countries with the lowest alcohol consumption in Europe, Australia,
United States and Canada.
"The Maltese consume 1.25 litres of spirits, 42.88 litres of
beer and 16.43 litres of wine, per capita, every year. The data
submitted by more than 50 countries is examined for its reliability
by the World Drink trends," Sense Group Chief Executive, Joseph
Farrugia, explained.
The European countries that reported a lower consumption rate per
capita than Malta are Sweden, Norway, and Iceland.
Mr Farrugia said that although the Maltese start drinking at an
earlier age, there is less incidence of drunkenness among youths
than in many other countries, a characteristic shared by many Mediterranean
countries.
"Facts related to alcohol consumption must be reported objectively
to identify problem areas and design alcohol policies which specifically
address these areas, such as drinking by minors," Mr Farrugia
stressed. "In designing appropriate alcohol policies, the reality
and context in which the policies will operate play an essential
role in creating a healthy relationship with alcohol."
The Sense Group
The Sense Group includes the major producers and importers of alcoholic
beverages in Malta, aiming to promote moderate, sensible and responsible
drinking.
TSG is autonomous from its members. The organisation hopes to cultivate
a better understanding of alcohol related issues in Malta, also
by conducting awareness campaigns.
Other functions of the group include assisting local authorities
to prevent alcohol abuse, encouraging ethical responsibility in
serving alcoholic beverages, establishing and maintaining contacts
with international institutions, and informing the general public
about developments regarding alcohol consumption.
TSG, launched in 1997, pronounced itself in favour of the breathalyser
test. In February 1999, TSG endorsed the Dublin Principles, a set
of international guidelines for the alcoholic beverage industry
which were agreed to by numerous governmental organisations in Europe
and North America, international health authorities such as the
WHO, and major producers of alcoholic beverages.
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The legal drinking age in Malta is 16 years
of age
According to World Drink Trends (2000) research, four per cent of
Maltese students admitted to being drunk more than 20 times in their
lives. The highest percentage was 41 per cent, registered in Denmark,
while the lowest figures were registered in Cyprus, Italy and Romania,
followed by Portugal and Malta.
The same study shows that the highest consumption of alcohol per
capita was registered in Luxembourg where a staggering 12.2 pure
litres of alcohol was recorded, while the lowest figure registered
was in Iceland with only four pure litres of alcohol. Malta ranked
fourth lowest in the scale.
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The Code of Practice for Outlets serving alcoholic beverages
provides ethical guidelines for the local trade. It emphasises:
• Legal and responsible promotion of alcohol
• Not serving alcoholic beverages to persons below the legal
drinking age
• Not serving alcoholic beverages to known alcoholics
• Training staff about alcohol content of beverages and to
translate this into ‘units'
• Not serving alcohol to drivers who have consumed more than
the legal drink-drive limit, offering alternative beverages and
advising clients to go home with someone who has not consumed above
the legal limit of alcohol, or taking an alternative mode of transport.
Bartenders shall offer to make transport arrangements for drivers
who have exceeded the legal intake of alcohol by establishing the
necessary contacts with taxi, minibus or any other services for
easy access
• Not allowing promotions which explicitly encourage bingeing
and/or irresponsible drinking
• Bartenders should familiarise themselves with services available
to problem drinkers and their families
• Supporting independent research which contributes to a better
understanding of the use and misuse of alcohol
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