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As Malta prepares to welcome thousands of delegates for this year’s SiGMA, one industry professional is calling on gaming companies and event organisers to use their influence to address a persistent and dangerous problem: Drink driving.
Shaun Parmar, Senior Sales Manager at Endorphina, has spoken out about the culture of normalising drinking and driving on the island, particularly during major events and networking gatherings.
“Driving to Sigma? Having a few drinks and driving home… It’s the norm here in Malta right…” he remarked in a LinkedIn post.
“So far in 2025, 20 people have lost their lives on Malta’s roads. Many of those tragedies sadly involved alcohol. Drink driving is endemic here in Malta and many of our friends, colleagues and acquaintances have normalised it,” he continued.
Mr Parmar said he has often witnessed the issue first-hand at business and social events. “I personally have been on countless dinners, networking events and social gatherings and witnessed people driving home when it was not safe – I stayed quiet, accepted it as the norm here but it’s time for change – too many innocent lives are being lost and families destroyed now! It’s really sad to witness it and as a scooter rider, scary too.”
With SiGMA expected to attract over 27,000 delegates and more than 1,000 exhibitors and sponsors, Mr Parmar encouraged the industry to unite in sending a clear message. “Would be great to see the local event organisers and Gaming companies unite on this as they do with other good causes and help to make this socially unacceptable.”
He went on to urge attendees to plan responsibly if they are drinking: “Plan your ride ahead, use a designated driver, or share a cab with friends. A good night should never end in heartbreak. Let’s make sure everyone gets home safely.”
Mr Parmar’s comments come as Malta continues to grapple with the consequences of drink driving. This year alone, several alcohol-related traffic accidents have made headlines, some of which proved fatal.
In June, the Government launched a public consultation on a new National Alcohol Consumption Policy, with the aim of reducing alcohol-related harm.
The Insurance Association Malta has also flagged concerning trends, noting that alcohol consumption locally increased by 23 per cent between 2010 and 2019, while European averages fell by a similar percentage.
Almost half of Maltese adults aged 20 to 49 admit to drinking more than six glasses of alcohol a week.
Prime Minister Robert Abela has meanwhile confirmed that the Government is revising penalties linked to negligent and drink driving. Speaking over the weekend, he stressed that authorities are looking at whether current punishments are “sufficient for the seriousness of this type of crime.”
“The repercussions will follow you, and worse, they will destroy the lives of innocent people,” Dr Abela said, adding that more enforcement would be visible on the roads in the coming days.
Main Image: Shaun Parmar / LinkedIn
