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Julian Manduca
The private ‘public’ party culture has worried the GRTU for some time but now GRTU’s hospitality and leisure president, Philip Fenech believes the new smoking laws will lead to increased activity outside the realm of the law.
In order to cut party organising expenses large party organisers took to offering unlicensed parties charging money to a private function and avoiding VAT or any fee for the venue. Such parties were usually organised on beaches and marketing was all by word of mouth.
The one month old smoking laws may encourage the private party culture Fenech told MaltaToday.
“Dr Mario Spiteri said it was against the law for people to rent licensed premises for a private function and permit smoking inside. That confirms what we have been saying for some time and has been happening abroad. “The smoking laws are encouraging a private party culture in unlicensed venues – something that we have been trying to avoid as GRTU for social and economic reasons. The private party culture - and many times these parties are not private but are open to those willing to pay - encourages activity on the edge of legality and outside the fiscal system.”
Fenech told MaltaToday the GRTU has been trying to control unlicensed parties for a number of years because they present unfair competition to all the establishments that have to pay for the amenities necessary to obtain and keep a licence. “The smoking law will be a further measure to push the entertainment industry underground and will go against the drive to achieve higher standards,” Fenech said.
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