The launch of a National Alcohol Policy came as something of a welcome surprise on Wednesday on the basis that alcohol consumption and the negatives associated with it is not usually a topic for grand discussion locally.

The policy was launched by Social Policy Minister Michael Falzon, who said that Malta needs to undergo a “culture change” in the way alcohol is considered and consumed in Malta – which is why this new strategy, which aims to run up to 2030, was drafted up.

While there have been considerable efforts to highlight the negatives of things such as drug consumption and smoking over the past years, the same cannot necessarily be said about alcohol – even though it is in many ways more accessible and potentially just as addictive and damaging as the aforementioned.

Indeed while alcohol consumption across Europe is decreasing, in Malta it is increasing by one of the highest rates in the continent (23%).

The policy gives special focus to young people, aiming to reduce the current rate of around 80% of adolescents having tried alcohol. "We've seen a drop in youth smoking from 60% to 20% after aggressive anti-tobacco campaigns. If we apply the same measures to alcohol, we can expect similar results," Professor Richard Muscat, who presented the policy, said.

There are plenty of measures proposed such as training for hospitality staff to identify when a person is intoxicated and what they should do, alcohol screenings in clinics and health centres to identify harmful drinking patterns, certain public areas being designated as alcohol-free zones, stronger enforcement, and considering restrictions at sports and cultural events.

The ill effects of alcohol are known, but not often discussed.

According to World Health Organization data from 2019, excessive alcohol use accounts for around 30% of unintentional injuries and is a significant contributor to death and disability among people aged 20 to 40, especially men.

Alcohol meanwhile has also consistently been demonstrated as a contributory factor in domestic violence and spousal abuse, while drink driving accounts for around 25% of all road fatalities in Europe.

Alcohol also increases the risk of chronic diseases, including liver disease, cancer, and heart disease, and its misuse may also lead to dependence on it, turning into an unhealthy addiction which can ultimately cause issues in personal relationships, work, health and other areas of life.

It is therefore welcome that the government has taken this courageous step to try and address Malta’s alcohol consumption levels – and it is a courageous step on the simple basis that this is an issue which is not talked about nearly enough.

The policy contains various measures which are reasonable, realistic, and also comparable with other policies abroad – meaning that there are real world examples that are proven.

One can but hope now that these measures can now be put into action, rather than remaining on page.