Trinidad Senate approves higher age limits for alcohol, tobacco, gambling and cannabis
Key Points(5)
- Trinidad and Tobago's Senate has approved legislation raising the legal age for drinking alcohol and smoking tobacco to 21 and for gambling and cannabis use to 25, with the Government relying entirely on its own senators to pass the measure.
- The Miscellaneous Provisions (Alcohol, Cannabis, Dangerous Drugs, Gambling and Tobacco) Bill, 2026, was approved early Wednesday morning by a vote of 15-12, with three abstentions.
- All 15 votes in favour came from Government senators.
- No Opposition or Independent senator voted for the bill.
- Independent senators Marlene Attzs, Francis Lewis and Alicia Pauline Lalite-Ettienne abstained, while the remaining Independent senators joined the Opposition in voting against the legislation.
Trinidad and Tobago's Senate has approved legislation raising the legal age for drinking alcohol and smoking tobacco to 21 and for gambling and cannabis use to 25, with the Government relying entirely on its own senators to pass the measure.
The Miscellaneous Provisions (Alcohol, Cannabis, Dangerous Drugs, Gambling and Tobacco) Bill, 2026, was approved early Wednesday morning by a vote of 15-12, with three abstentions.
All 15 votes in favour came from Government senators. No Opposition or Independent senator voted for the bill.
Independent senators Marlene Attzs, Francis Lewis and Alicia Pauline Lalite-Ettienne abstained, while the remaining Independent senators joined the Opposition in voting against the legislation.
The vote marks the third major piece of legislation in recent weeks that the Government has had to pass using the full strength of its Senate bench. The Special Operations Bill and the Public Procurement and Disposal of Public Property (Amendment) Bill both resulted in 15-15 ties and required Senate President Wade Mark to use his casting vote.
During his closing remarks, Attorney General John Jeremie made a direct appeal to the Independent senators to support the bill, even if they did not consider every provision perfect.
Jeremie recalled the late Independent Senator Dana Seetahal, who he said supported tobacco-control legislation despite being a heavy smoker because she believed in the objective of the measures.
“This is a chimney smoker telling me that, okay, this is a good piece of legislation, I support the objective, it’s not going to make my life easier, but I would support it,” Jeremie said.
He urged senators to take a similar approach to the current bill.
“I want to urge my colleagues on the other side of the aisle to consider the fact that, one, no piece of legislation is perfect,” he said.
Senators question higher age limits
The appeal came after several hours of debate in which Independent senators questioned the Government's justification for the new age limits and some of the penalties contained in the legislation.
Among the concerns was why an 18-year-old, who is legally an adult and can vote, marry, enter contracts and join the protective services, should no longer be considered old enough to legally purchase alcohol.
Senators also questioned the Government's reliance on international research and called for more local data showing the extent to which young people in Trinidad and Tobago are affected by alcohol-related harm, road deaths and drug overdoses.
Jeremie defended the higher age limits as regulatory measures, saying the increase in the drinking age is supported by medical evidence.
“The legal age to drink alcohol in a number of territories throughout the world has been lifted to 21 on the back of medical evidence,” he said.
He pointed to evidence presented during the debate by Health Minister Lackram Bodoe and said the Government also plans to use public education and media campaigns to reduce alcohol use and accessibility.
Jeremie cited the United States, Canada, Sri Lanka, Lithuania and Singapore as examples of countries that have imposed restrictions on alcohol, tobacco, gambling or cannabis.
Government defends penalties
The Attorney General also defended the penalties contained in the bill after senators raised concerns that some fines were excessive.
Jeremie pointed to a 2020 amendment to the Interpretation Act that increased the fine for breaches of regulations from $500 to $100,000.
He also cited penalties under the Dangerous Drugs Act ranging from 25 years to life imprisonment, arguing that those penalties should be considered when assessing the fines proposed in the new legislation.
“The object of the penalty is to express society’s repugnance with the conduct,” Jeremie said.
“I think that the penalties which are in the legislation before us, those are responsible penalties, and they are proportionate.”
Jeremie also rejected criticism of the bill's drafting, saying legislation goes through policy formulation, review by a legislative review committee and Cabinet oversight before being presented to Parliament.
The bill will now go to President Christine Kangaloo for assent. Once assented to, it will become law.
