Trinidad’s government will propose raising legal ages for alcohol, tobacco, cannabis and gambling. The bill goes to Parliament Wednesday.
Trinidad and Tobago Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar announced Sunday that her government will bring legislation to Parliament on Wednesday proposing to raise the legal age for alcohol and tobacco from 18 to 21, and for cannabis and gambling from 18 to 25. Persad-Bissessar made the announcement in a social media post, saying the measures were intended to protect young people from the effects of substance use and gambling.
The bill would amend seven pieces of legislation, including the Dangerous Drugs Act, the Tobacco Control Act, the Liquor Licences Act, the Gambling (Gaming and Betting) Control Act and the Cannabis Control Act. Under the proposal, the minimum legal age for the sale, purchase, possession or consumption of alcohol and tobacco would rise to 21, while cannabis and gambling would both carry a minimum age of 25. The proposed cannabis and gambling thresholds mark an increase from the position Persad-Bissessar outlined in the House of Representatives in January, when she said the government intended to raise the cannabis age to 21 and the gambling age from 21 to 25.
The proposed changes follow commitments the ruling United National Congress made during its 2025 general election campaign. Persad-Bissessar has said previously that the increases are meant to shield young people from the effects of substance abuse and addiction, which she has described as capable of causing lasting harm to individuals, families and communities. When asked whether she believes the legislation will win the support of independent senators, whose votes have proven pivotal in recent tied Senate votes on other government bills, Persad-Bissessar said it “doesn’t matter.” The proposed legislation follows a series of recent government bills that have drawn scrutiny in the Senate, including the Special Operations Bill and the Public Procurement and Disposal of Public Property (Amendment) Bill, both of which passed only after the Senate president’s tie-breaking casting vote.