If you think the problem of alcohol in Malta is a recent phenomenon, well, you cannot be more wrong. According to Medieval sources, the Maltese used to drink a lot of imported wine from Sicily. This complemented the locally-produced cheese and honey, with bread being the staple food. Cheap fish provided most meat.

Social status was not discernible only by the lifestyle, but also by the colour of bread because of its ingredients, and how much meat could be afforded. Life was frugal, dependent on imports, and the situation only improved marginally after the arrival of the Knights of St John. In several instances, Malta was referred-to as “land of hunger”.

The Maltese did not worry about any surcharge on electricity either: their main source of fuel was dried cow dung.

These revelations were made by Professor Carmel Cassar, a lecturer in history and archaeology at the University of Malta, during a conference held at the Institute of Tourism Studies (ITS) in St Julian’s last Saturday.

This conference focused on historical and contemporary aspects of tourism and hospitality in Malta and Sicily and was addressed by Maltese and Italian speakers. Mr Vincent Zammit, lecturer at ITS, made some reflections on the prehistoric connections between Malta and Sicily while Claude Zammit Trevisan, from the Malta Tourism Authority, commented on marketing strategies for Malta.

Other contributions were made by Dott. Umberto Vanella, Dottoressa Loredana D’Arrigo and Dott. Angelo Strano from the Regione Sicilia as well as from Ms Celia Mallia from the Planning and Priorities Coordination Division – Malta.

The conference was organised as part of the Saperi e Sapori Project part-financed by the European Regional Development Fund (75%) – Community Initiative Interreg IIIA Italia-Malta Programme 2004-2006.