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We would like to bring to attention the readers of this newspaper that we, the operators of the establishment “Osiris” in Marsascala, is a non-alcoholic youth bar with amplified music, which opened every Saturday for teenagers to gather in a clean and respectful atmosphere with no alcohol and a no smoking policy on the premises.
On the evening of the 18 February we were stopped from doing this by the police inspector for the Zabbar district, due to the fact there was under 16s on the premises.
In our opinion we were doing nothing wrong: on the contrary we think we were giving today’s teenagers a chance to gather and have fun without subjecting them to alcohol and cigarettes.
We hear and see on a daily basis on local media about the pressure our teenagers are under and for them to stay away from such abuse. Activities like our establishment are organised frequently by schools, youth centres and also by Caritas Malta in which I might add are held in entertainment establishments.
European countries also organise such nights for teenagers, England being one of the many countries. One could take a look at an example on the internet at www.kaosunder18.com.
In our opinion and of many parents’, these organised events are not in any way harmful to our teenagers. Parents are now stressed not knowing where their teenagers are, where as before they knew they where in a clean environment.
Now that this healthy dose of entertainment has been stopped I deeply emphasise the need for our Police Force to do their duty for our under-16s to see that they are not subjected to alcohol and cigarettes, which they clearly are on Saturday evenings in establishments that do not have the necessary operating licenses.
Pierre Desira, Leonard Desira
Zabbar
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