Be the first to comment!National Alcohol Consumption Policy: Public consultation launched
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The National Alcohol Consumption Policy has been launched by the Government for public consultation. The document includes several proposals and is divided into three main parts.
The Government said that the first priority is to reduce the acceptability, accessibility and availability of alcohol. The consultation will remain open for five weeks, until the 31st of July, and is available by clicking here.
Minister for Social Policy and Children’s Rights, Michael Falzon, stated that this consultation will be open to suggestions from everyone, both professionals in the subject and the general public.
He emphasised the need for a cultural change, where drinking is not normalised because it can have very negative impacts from bio-psycho-social aspects.
“We need to show that alcohol consumption is not a normal part of our culture, and we need to do this through increased awareness, including in schools and even in the workplace,” stated Minister Michael Falzon.
The priorities of this policy revolve around promoting a culture of responsibility among the public, in order to reduce the use of alcohol in particular places, with an emphasis on those frequented by children and young people. There is also a need for owners and people who serve alcoholic products to be given mandatory training in shops that have a license to sell alcohol, the Minister said.
The second part of the policy focuses on the harms related to the use of alcohol. Among these are the harm to the health of individuals who use alcohol, as well as other harms such as domestic violence and accidents related to driving under the influence of alcohol. It is also proposed to introduce a screening system for alcohol use.
The third part of the policy addresses cross-cutting issues of monitoring and evaluation of alcohol use. It is proposed that this be done through the establishment of a National Focal Point on Alcohol, which will play a key role in coordinating and monitoring all related measures.
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