How sunny European holiday island became Amsterdam-on-Sea as young Brits snap up ‘good food, cheap booze and legal weed’
WITH racy dance shows, boozed-up Brits and the sickly sweet smell of cannabis filling the air, this European holiday hotspot might sound a little familiar.
But it is not the infamous red light district of Amsterdam, where millions of tourists flock each year for legal joints and X-rated thrills.
Rather, it is the sun-soaked streets of Malta, which has become a trendy new choice for young holidaymakers seeking “good food, cheap booze and legal weed”.
In 2021, the picturesque island – situated between Sicily and the North African coast – became the first EU country to legalise the cultivation and personal use of cannabis.
The landmark ruling has led to dedicated drug shops popping up alongside the countless nightclubs in Paceville – a party district with rowdy nightlife to rival Magaluf.
Just a few hundred metres from the strip, where twenty-somethings party hard into the early hours, is a booze and cigarette shop that sells pre-rolled joints.
“I just sold my last one to two British girls,” the cashier tells us when we ask about the empty display.
“It’s mainly tourists that buy this. Most of the locals just grow their own at home.”
However, he added: “It does concern me how many tourists are smoking this at night and then driving the next day. If they get caught, the penalties can be bad.”
Malta, a former favourite of families and the elderly, has emerged in recent years as the Med’s new Party Central.
Young Brits are flocking here on the three-hour flights from London to take advantage of some of the lowest prices in Europe and drinking games organised by party groups.
Bookings from the UK have increased more than threefold in the past two years, with a 366 per cent hike between June and September last summer.
It comes as tourist favourites like Amsterdam – popular for its cannabis-friendly ‘coffee shops’ – try to overhaul their image by cracking down on boozing Brits.
In May, the Dutch capital launched new measures making it illegal to smoke cannabis in its infamous red light district, while also ordering sex workers to close venues at 3am.
As a result, Brits flocking to Malta for its new wave of superclubs and wild drinking games are also making the most of its groundbreaking new drug rules.
While laws stipulate it should only be smoked inside, we saw many people on the beachfront of St Julien’s and Sliema openly flouting them. Most were tourists.
One lad from Manchester who didn’t want to give his name said: “We knew it was legal here. It was one of the reason we chose Malta for a lads’ holiday.
“Good food, cheap booze and legal weed. It was a no brainer.”
Another said: “It makes sure we relax while on holiday. It’s great.”
One tells The Sun: “I hadn’t realised it was legal here, but it’s a good surprise. I’ve made the most of it.”
With a strong police presence on the streets, however, breaking the law is ill-advised.
Just this week, a 31-year-old man was seized by cops on Triq Santu Wistin after he was found with 30 bags of containing suspected cocaine and cannabis.
The legalisation of cannabis led to fierce debate in the Catholic country, which only legalised divorce in 2011, and same-sex marriage and adoption in 2017.
Owen Bonnici, who was the equality minister at the time of the vote in December 2021, said the “historic” move would help to “curb drug trafficking by making sure that [users] now have a safe and regularised way from where they can obtain cannabis”.
Desiree Attard, a lawyer who worked on drafting the law, told The Times: “We wanted to avoid the commercialisation seen in the US.
“We were inspired by the cannabis social clubs in Spain, and we went for decriminalisation rather than the tolerance they have in Holland.”
Dangers of drug
SMOKING cannabis every day increases the risk of heart disease disease, a study earlier this year claimed.
Heavy users of the Class B drug boosted the chances of developing the deadly condition by more than a third, compared to people who never smoke it.
Researchers at Stanford University tracked medical records of more than 175,000 adults in the US and cross-referenced them with surveys about marijuana use.
Previous studies have also linked regular usage with an increased risk of depression and suicidal thoughts.
The drug has become easier to get hold of thanks to the opening of shops like the Cannabis Store Amsterdam in St Julien’s and local off-licences selling joints.
A worker at the Cannabis Store told us: “Almost everyone who comes in here to buy weed are British.
“Some have picked Malta because they know it’s legal. Others are just happily surprised to find out it’s legal after arriving here to party.”
The store-front is decorated with cannabis leaf paintings, and inside a range of drug paraphernalia is on display alongside different CBD products from skin-care to tea.
The buds are kept under lock and key at the front counter and sold in batches of one gram. The legal limit per person is seven grams.
For one gram of cannabis, it costs €19.99, the equivalent of £15.68. It is almost double the price many weed smokers pay in the UK to buy the leaves illegally.
In Canada, which has also legalised the drug, it cost just £3.50 per gram.
Almost everyone who comes in here to buy weed are British
Cannabis store worker
Under the law in Malta, people can possess up to seven grams, grow four plants and only smoke their joints at home.
Violating these rules can result in hefty fines. Smoking cannabis in public will result in appearing before a justice commissioner and a fine of up to €235. Smoking in front of a minor can see the fine increase to a maximum of €500.
Anyone caught possessing more than 28 grams can be charged between €50 and a maximum of €100, but will not result in a criminal record.
400 shots & pints of vodka
Despite the strict rules, across the island the smell of weed wafts down beaches, through bars and even in the giant open air club Gianpaula near Rabat.
Since many other drinking destinations in Europe started turfing out Brits for their bad behaviour, many have flocked to sunny Malta for the nightlife.
The main strip in St Julians swarms with revellers from all nationalities, with Brits branded “the best behaved” by local cops.
Bars on the next street over sell platters of up to 400 shots and pints of vodka for around a fiver.
A spokesperson for the Malta tourist board previously told us: “Malta is a popular holiday destination with the British market due to its ease of flight access from a number of regional airports across the UK and the value for money it offers.
“Whilst we do welcome those keen to experience our nightlife scene in the St Julian’s area, these travellers represents a very small number compared to those seeking to experience our rich culture, history and Maltese hospitality as evidenced by how many visit cultural attractions in Valletta, Mdina, Rabat and across Malta’s 95 square miles and our islands Gozo and Comino.”