Caritas Malta Suggests Raising Drinking Age, Alcohol Prices

Caritas Malta has urged the government to raise the legal drinking age to 21 and introduce a higher minimum unit price for alcohol as part of the forthcoming National Alcohol Policy.

The call comes after a series of serious road accidents in Malta involving drunk driving.

Caritas believes that delaying legal access to alcohol and making cheap, high-strength drinks less affordable would help curb excessive consumption, particularly among young people.

The organisation proposes setting the minimum unit price at €0.75, in line with measures adopted in Scotland. It says this would reduce binge drinking without introducing a tax, as the additional revenue would remain with the industry.

Alongside these proposals, Caritas has endorsed the wider draft policy published in June 2025, which addresses health warnings on alcoholic products, stricter advertising rules, tighter drink-driving regulations, and stronger enforcement in shops, restaurants, and public events.

It also calls for public campaigns to promote abstinence during pregnancy, early alcohol education in schools, and more community activities to provide young people with healthy alternatives.

The ultimate goal is to prioritise wellbeing and resilience, Caritas said, shifting cultural attitudes towards responsible drinking in much the same way that public perception of smoking has changed.

The government is set to review stakeholder feedback before finalising the policy for implementation.

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