The government will shortly publish a legal notice which will prohibit confectioners from selling alcohol from 9pm to 8am, Parliamentary Secretary Edwin Vassallo said yesterday.
He was speaking during the launch of a public awareness campaign on the new law prohibiting consumption of alcohol for people under 16 years of age which was passed unanimously by parliament earlier this month.
The launch was held at the Embassy Cinemas and was attended by students from St Edward’s College, St Albert the Great and Maria Regina Junior Lyceum. Various stakeholders were also present.
Mr Vassallo said the legal notice will complement the new amendments which prohibit people under the age of 16 years from buying, possessing or consuming alcoholic beverages. The law also prohibits those over 16 years to pass on alcohol to those underage. Only bars and restaurants holding an MTA licence to sell alcohol will be able to sell such beverage during those hours, said Mr Vassallo.
The Parliamentary Secretary stressed that a liberalised market does not mean that any market player can do whatever he wants. Such a system, he said, poses stronger responsibilities on the businessmen.
The seminar was opened by Minister Dolores Cristina who said that the law was introduced in order to protect youths who due to their young age might not be able to know their limits and tend to binge drink.
She thanked all those involved in drafting the law, especially the permanent focus group made up of various several government entities and national commission. The minister stressed that now that the bill has been enacted, there is the need for enforcement and for more education on the subject. To this end, an awareness campaign aimed for youths, parents or guardians and sellers of alcoholic beverages was being launched. Ms Cristina stressed that the law is not an act of prohibition but an attempt to teach moderation to the younger generation. She praised Sedqa for organising non-alcoholic parties.
Children’s Commissioner Carmen Zammit explained that the place of entertainment influences youths’ behaviour and encouraged more non-alcoholic parties.