In May 2019, during the Senate debate on the Licensing Committee (Validation) Bill, I urged the then government to consider raising the legal drinking age to 21.
I referenced global research indicating that 12 per cent of deaths among men aged 15–49 were alcohol-related, and stressed the ripple effects on families and national productivity. To me, this was a tangible way to decrease a cause of social distress.
Scientific data also reinforces that the brain’s prefrontal cortex isn’t fully mature until around age 25.
The prefrontal cortex is responsible for decision-making, impulse control, the capacity for complex planning, problem-solving and modulation of social behaviour.
Introducing psychoactive substances like alcohol and marijuana during this critical window impairs neurodevelopment, increases susceptibility to addiction and permanently alters life trajectories.
According to the National Alcohol and Substance Abuse Survey (NASHTT), many children are introduced to alcohol as early as 10 or 11. Over 75% of secondary school students report drinking alcohol before 13. This is not social experimentation—it is institutionalised poisoning of our youth. It leads to increased road traffic accidents, suicides, domestic abuse, school dropouts, and lifelong mental health challenges.
From a medical standpoint, there is no “safe” level of alcohol consumption. The World Health Organization (WHO) and the International Agency for Research on Cancer have classified alcohol as a Group 1 carcinogen. One of the most sobering revelations from recent WHO studies is the growing link between alcohol and breast cancer, even in women who drink as little as one glass of wine per day.
In 1984, after the US enacted the National Minimum Drinking Age Act, there was a significant decline in alcohol-related traffic deaths among 18-20-year-olds. This was one of the simplest, most cost-effective public health tools available.
More than a year ago, on July 19, 2025, I wrote a column titled “Youth Protection and Substance Use: A National Policy Imperative,” praising Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar’s announcement that Government intended not only to raise the legal age for the consumption of alcohol, but also to increase the legal age for cannabis use and gambling.
I wrote, “T&T has normalised alcohol in almost every ritual—birthdays, wakes, weddings, Carnival, and sporting events. It is gifted at Christmas, sold openly near schools and churches, and consumed at family gatherings where young children absorb these habits long before they take their first sip.
“Similarly, while possession of small amounts of marijuana has been decriminalised, we must not believe this is harmless. There is a correlation between early-onset psychosis, anxiety, cognitive impairment, and motivational deficits in adolescents. I have seen far too many young men admitted to hospitals from cannabis-induced psychosis.
“When a young person uses marijuana, they are not simply “liming” or exploring—they are rewiring their brain in dangerous ways. Studies show that early and heavy marijuana use can reduce IQ, impair memory, and reduce academic and occupational achievement over the long term.
“Raising the age of access sends a clear message: these substances carry risk, and we will not allow our nation’s future to be squandered for the sake of tradition or profit.
This is not about prohibition—it is about responsible policy. It is about aligning our laws with science and safeguarding our youth from themselves. While adults may choose to consume these substances with full awareness of the risks, our young people deserve time—time for their brains to mature, for their goals to crystallise, and for their futures to take root before introducing substances that can derail all of the above.
“Critics will argue that enforcement is difficult or that young people will obtain these substances regardless of the law. But the same can be said of any law—speed limits, seatbelt use, or underage driving. Yet, we enforce those laws because we believe they save lives. And they do…this is not a war on fun—it is a fight for our children, our communities, and our country’s future. We owe them nothing less.”
The Government’s intention should not come as a surprise. They were election promises made by the United National Congress in its 2025 general election campaign.
I agree with Homeland Affairs Minister Roger Alexander, who stated in a Facebook post: “Leadership requires the courage to make difficult decisions in the national interest. There comes a time when someone must be prepared to take responsibility and act in the best interest of our people, particularly our young people.”
I again commend and thank Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar for having the courage to take this important action in the interest of protecting our young people.
