Maltese Girls Are Drinking More Alcohol Than Boys, Report Shows

A striking reversal in gender trends has emerged in Malta’s youth drinking patterns. According to ESPAD 2024, Maltese girls report higher alcohol use and intoxication than boys a trend that contrasts with most of Europe.

In a survey conducted last year among 2,880 students across Malta and Gozo, emerged that 74% of students reported that they had never consumed alcohol in their lives.

The survey reveals that, in Malta, 54% of boys and 52% of girls have consumed alcohol in the past 30 days.

When it comes to intoxication, 17% of girls reported being drunk in the last month, compared with 12% of boys.

This makes Malta one of the few countries where female teen intoxication rates surpass those of males, reflecting a cultural shift in social habits and attitudes towards drinking.

Researchers describe Malta as one of the few countries where female teen intoxication rates surpass males, a cultural shift that may reflect changing social habits and perceptions around drinking.

During a conference organised by the Foundation for Social Welfare Services (FSWS), Minister for Social Policy and the Rights of the Child, Michael Falzon, discussed Malta’s results in the latest European School Survey Project on Alcohol and Other Drugs (ESPAD). He said the government continues to invest in school awareness campaigns to educate students about the negative effects of addiction and risky behaviours.

Falzon stressed that vices are never a solution, describing them as “a negative cycle that holds people back,” while reaffirming the government’s commitment to strengthen prevention efforts from a young age.

#MaltaDaily