Government has framed the reforms as a strong statement that road safety is a priority. He appealed to MPs to support the bill, declaring: "The message should be a strong one: we cannot accept someone drinking or taking drugs before driving, because the risks are too big and the consequences are even bigger." He said the reform "emphasises the protection of life and the strength of our population," describing it as a direct response to growing public concern over road safety. Even if not all were widely publicised on social media, these incidents are real, and society has accepted behaviours like drinking, taking drugs, or doing both at the same time," she said. She also mentioned specific concerns, including early "happy hour" promotions on Merchant Street that encourage drinking at unsafe hours, as part of Malta's broader road safety challenges.