Caritas has welcomed the June draft of the National Alcohol Policy and urged that the final policy “retain its core goals and ensure effective implementation.”

Highlighting alcohol’s serious health risks, Caritas stressed the need for clear public education on binge drinking and its long-term impacts.

Some of its key proposals include raising the legal drinking age to 21 years, raising the minimum price of alcohol to €0.75 per unit (in line with Scotland) and added that zero tolerance” is ideal and is in line with Caritas belief.” But at a minimum, the Blood Alcohol Concentration limit should be reduced to 20mg/100ml to better protect public safety.

The organisation said that it advocates for “promoting wellbeing and resilience over harmful coping mechanisms, encouraging healthier, more connected lifestyles.”

Caritas made the following key proposals and highlights important factors to strengthen the National Alcohol Policy:

1. Health Warnings

The public should be informed about the health and social risks associated with alcohol.

Mandatory, visible and up-to-date warnings on all alcoholic products, sales points and advertisements. Should also provide details for support services and/or helplines.

Include information on legal drinking age, driving risks, pregnancy/breastfeeding dangers, unit guidelines, prohibition of selling alcohol to underage individuals and the impact of alcohol on the body.

2. Advertising & Marketing

Ban alcohol advertisements in public spaces (such as billboards & buses).

Restrict advertisements on TV and radio to after 10:00pm and before 5am.

3. Drink-Driving Regulations

Zero tolerance is ideal and is in line with Caritas belief. But at a minimum, the Blood Alcohol Concentration limit should be reduced to 20mg/100ml to better protect public safety.

Mandatory intoxication tests in all accidents involving bodily harm.

Random breathalyser testing even without suspicion.

National awareness campaigns on drink-driving dangers.

4. Minimum Unit Pricing (MUP)

Raise minimum price of alcohol to €0.75 per unit (in line with Scotland).

The aim is to reduce affordability of binge drinking.

This is not a TAX as revenue remains with industry.

5. Pregnancy and Alcohol

Alcohol use among women is rising, highlighting the need for targeted interventions.

Public campaigns should promote zero alcohol use when trying to conceive, during pregnancy and while breastfeeding.

6. Youth Alcohol Use

Raise legal drinking age to 21 years.

Increase support for early, school-based education on alcohol risks.

Provide youth with alternative weekend activities.

7. Cultural Shift

Shift societal mindset towards informed and contained consumption, like the transformation we’ve seen with attitudes towards smoking.

Support critical thinking and healthy decision-making from an early age.

8. Alcohol Harm Awareness Campaigns

Invest more resources into school programmes.

Create digital resources, visuals, social media content on alcohol risks.

9. Enforcement

Strict ID checks in grocery stores, supermarkets and restaurants.

Locked alcohol displays in retail.

Active enforcement during festivities such as St. Patrick’s Day and wine/ beer festivals.

Empower restaurants to cap drinks and report potentially intoxicated drivers.

Court-mandated AA (Alcohol Anonymous) sessions or services provided by Caritas, Sedqa and Oasi for alcohol-related offenders.

10. Family, Education, Extracurriculars

Educate and empower families on alcohol harms.

Revise academic syllabi to allow time for creative, communal learning.

Expand free gym and activity schemes, safe outdoor initiatives.

11. PAVE Project Proposal (Protect, Ask, Verify, Educate)

Collaborative project (between Caritas, Oasi, Sedqa, Agenzija Zghazagh, Community Police) to create awareness, educate adolescents and the public, encourage the public to report illegalities and encourage enforcement.

Expected outcomes: reduced youth substance use, better mental health, and safer communities.

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