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Government to introduce new laws on alcohol, tobacco and gambling
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by LEO OLIVERO
The Government is considering introducing new and updated legislation in an attempt to stem the worrying and growing concern with alcohol abuse in Gibraltar, tobacco use and sales - and gambling laws are also in line for change.
This is welcome news of course, I have for the last two years been campaigning for these socially soul-destroying substances to come under the scrutiny and consideration of the Government's law draftsman.
MINIMUM AGE
I am led to believe however, that the all-important minimum age for purchasing, selling and consumption of alcohol will remain at 16 years, this in the context of the new proposed legislation. This I understand goes contrary to very strong recommendations proposed to Government by professional bodies which recommended that the minimum age for the consumption of alcohol should be raised to 18 years as is the current legal requirement in the United Kingdom.
In fact, recommendations to Government were originally made higher than 18 years, some proposals were set at a minimum drinking age of 21 years as per the United States, the Government I understand would have nothing of it and has apparently decided to remain static and allow alcohol consumption to be set at this dangerous and incorrigible age group of 16 years.
Underage drinking and the abuse of alcohol consumption by young people is Gibraltar?s No 1 youth drug problem, these are facts that have been known for many years now.
I have campaigned in this newspaper for Government to act on this growing social problem of alcohol abuse amongst the young. I have also commented that the Governments drugs policy requires reviewing and up dating with the many local general drug trends that have changed or moved on, since their policy document was made 4 years ago.
LITTLE IMPACT
The Governments Drug document never included any strategy on alcohol and tobacco, and this has always been a major element in why so far the Governments drug strategy has had very little impact on the community.
The news that alcohol, tobacco, and gambling, three serious and destroying social virtues is to be tackled, is excellent news. If Government however is to deal with the alcohol problem in particular, I very much hope that they have listened properly and with sense to the right people who deal with this problem daily. I also hope they have at least bothered to carry out some level of research on this serious social problem, this before they decide on any final draft regarding this important social issue that affects all of us, in one way or another.
My concerns are that Government have decided against certain important recommendations made by related bodies on these important matters, particularly the one concerning the alcohol age limit.
The whole exercise of introducing new or up dated laws or measures particularly on drug abuse, is to improve on the current situation. Leaving the alcohol age limit at 16 years, cannot and will not improve or give greater protection to this vulnerable age group, I would have thought that after three years the Governments drug strategy would at the very least and if nothing else, have told them this.
It is very easy to just legislate on a social problem such as alcohol and tobacco abuse, laws can be drafted with little difficulty. The important point of all this must be that any legislation has to be carefully thought out, has to integrate, and must form part of the bigger problem concerning the general drug abuse problem in Gibraltar.
Any new alcohol legislation must be the main basis of a major alcohol strategy by Government that includes tobacco, which must also include in my view, an
updated well-defined general drugs strategy with a long term and consistent ABUSE to it
Alcohol and tobacco abuse has become such an important and concerning social and health issue in Europe that countries are implementing these community safety measures with a seriousness and frequency of action that really be- fits this disturbing and dangerous problem on modern society.
My concern is that we may end up with a half baked law which has as much life, forward thinking and planning as a undertakers convention, so please lets get it right. Combating drug abuse that includes alcohol and tobacco is all about changing attitudes, protecting the community, particularly the vulnerable sections like the young. Let's not make it easy for them, we must have a range of measures that will maximise the potential to reduce harm to the community as a whole, what other consideration can there be to this important social problem?
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