The National Assembly, last Thursday, passed the Intoxicating Liquor Licensing (Amendment) Bill, which addresses underage drinking and increases the penalty for allowing a person under 16-years-old to be on licensed liquor premises.
Under the new legislation, for the first offence the penalty has been increased from $1,000 to $5,000 and, for a subsequent offence, from $3,000 to $1M.  For a third conviction, the penalty included the revocation of the licence.
The Bill was piloted by Home Affairs Minister Clement Rohee, who noted that a similar amendment to the legislation was made in 1992 and had increased fines from $15 to $1,000 and $30 to $3,000.
Rohee said these old penalties “have no weight and are much too small” and stressed the need to have stricter penalties to curb the practice of allowing minors in bars.
“The increases in the penalties are a reflection of the State’s commitment to the protection of children from persons who would seek to prey on their vulnerabilities for the sake of profits,” the Home Affairs Minister said.
Tourism, Industry and Commerce Minister Manniram Prashad supported his colleague’s argument and the Bill was also supported by the Opposition.
However, the opposing side of the House noted that the amendments would not reduce alcoholism in society.