Is it just me or has anyone else noticed that the number 25 appears predominantly in our society, as when one attains this in age, one is then granted permission for a number of privileges?
It has been much touted of late to reduce the voting age to 16 years of age – a highly debatable and thought-provoking concept –and whether this will ever be enacted remains to be seen.
However, this suggestion flies in the face of perceived wisdom in more forward-thinking countries, where governments actively aim to increase this age limit to vote along with the age to be able to legally drive a motor vehicle on the road, for reasons relating to maturity, sound judgment and life experience.
Which leads me to the first reference to the age of 25. For whilst it is deemed perfectly acceptable and appropriate to be permitted to drive a vehicle – provided of course one satisfies the authorities with one’s proficiency to do so by obtaining a license - at the age of 18 one must inexplicably attain the age of 25 in order for one to hire a motor vehicle. Apparently, this age criterion restriction is a legal requirement, based on a risk assessment analysis for insurance purposes. This then begs the question: why is this same premise then not applied to drivers aged 18 who seemingly have carte blanche to drive a vehicle on our roads merely because they are driving a privately owned vehicle?
Also, the age 25 then kicks in again as the moment a Maltese citizen attains the right to enter a casino, which is just possibly parochial and discriminatory given that other EU citizens (indeed, any other non-Maltese) are deemed much more mature and upstanding as they are free to enter at age 21.
It is envisaged that accountably and appropriately one may be potentially granted the ablility to have some influence on who governs the country, represents the Local Council and matters effecting our heritage along with a myriad of other vital issues at the grand age of 16... yet heaven forfend if they want to play Black Jack before they are 25!
At present one may lay one’s life on the line for our country at age 18 in any war scenario but to be in a position to enter the hallowed halls of a casino one must wait until reaching 25. What nonsense is this?
Regardless of what one thinks about gambling ,and I am not remotely advocating any merits attached to such, it is nevertheless an inalienable right to have freedom of choice and accessibility and not to be marginalised ,I daresay discriminated against, through the infliction an inordinately high age restriction.
It would be interesting to learn what the authorities so tasked with addressing such anomalies are proposing to do regarding such an obvious dichotomy in standards – all apparently sanctioned by legislation.

Peter Murray
Mosta