Leisure industry divided over drinking age revision – GRTU

Commissioner for Children Helen D'Amato's proposal to raise the drinking age from 17 to 18 has been met with a mixed reaction by owners of bars and places of entertainment, GRTU vice-president Philip Fenech.

Given the divergent views within its ranks, the GRTU has not yet taken an official stand, he said.

D'Amato's proposal was one of several proposed amendments to laws concerning issues falling under her remit in a memorandum sent to the Justice Reform Commission.

Speaking to MaltaToday, the commissioner said that the legal age should once again be increased for the same reasons it had been changed in 2009.  

"We believe that the consequences that drinking brings are long term and that was one of the reasons it was raised from 16 u 17," she said.  

Asked what difference would one year make, D'Amato said, "It makes a big difference, especially at such a delicate stage in young persons' lives."

Quoting the European Survey Project on Alcohol and other Drugs (Espad) for Malta, carried out in 2011, D'Amato pointed out that studies showed that links exist between alcohol abuse among young people and short and long-term health risks, the use of other drugs and poor school performance.

Noting that the study showed a worrying picture of alcohol consumption among 16-year-olds in Malta, D'Amato said that 56% of 16-year-olds in Malta admitted to drinking five or more drinks on one occasion within the previous month.

Adding that the studies show that alcohol consumption by adolescents was high compared to other countries, the commissioner said: "We need more education and awareness campaigns apart from enforcement. It would be useless raising the legal age unless it is sustained by stronger enforcement."

D'Amato's calls were also supported by the national anti-dependency agency, however representatives of the leisure industry are divided, according to Philip Fenech, who heads the GRTU's hospitality and leisure division.

"Personally, I believe that it should go up to 18, as this will bring uniformity between Malta and other countries within the EU, where the drinking age is mainly 18," Fenech said.

Fenech added that raising the drinking age would also raise standards in the industry.

"Responsible drinking and responsibility comes with age. I feel that to drink alcohol you have to be mature however, when you look at the industry our members have different views," he added.

Fenech stressed that this was only his personal opinion, and not that of the GRTU, where reactions to the proposal vary, mainly according to the establishments' clientele.

He explained that owners of establishments that catered for a younger clientele argued that raising the minimum drinking age would see them lose a big chunk of their business, threatening their sustainability.

"On the other hand, those whose establishments attracted an older crowd believe that the measure would improve their business, pointing out that the presence of younger people deterred older people from certain areas," Fenech said.

Moreover other establishments, which attracted a mix of younger and older people, expressed similar concerns to those whose venues were geared towards younger crowds.

The GRTU is discussing the proposal, but given the divergent views, it was too early for it to come up with a common stance, he added.