00:00Activist Garth Sinclair says the focus must be on preventing young people from entering these behaviours in the first place.
00:08Warning that reversing established habits becomes far more difficult once they take hold.
00:16Enacting laws and legislation cannot curb addiction.
00:21Their young people start drinking from the age of 11 to 14.
00:27Some of them have been introduced to alcohol by their family.
00:31So, and some of them drinking it on their own.
00:34So there are those who are already addicted and if we are looking at addiction, then laws will not be
00:41able to change that.
00:42It will just drive them underground and they will continue to drink.
00:46In a telephone interview, he says, alcohol presents a particular challenge because of its deep-rooted presence in Trinidad and
00:54Tobago.
00:55We are talking about changing our entire culture here.
00:58A culture where, and even the Prime Minister will notice that, you know, we celebrate or we grieve.
01:06And these substances are used in both instances.
01:10So, you know, it's going to be a tricky thing.
01:17This has to be all-encompassing because, remember, we also sell alcohol here any day, any time.
01:24Additionally, he is questioning whether businesses selling alcohol will face tighter controls to enforce the new age limit.
01:32Meanwhile, sociologist Dr. M. Wale Henry tells us it's a step in the right direction, but interventions and education should
01:41begin even before 21.
01:44Legislation without enforcement can become symbolism.
01:48A 2026 UWE-UTT study of over 800 students found 60% currently use alcohol.
01:55But interestingly, out of the respondents in UWE, 82.5% reported being exposed to alcohol in primary and secondary
02:06schools.
02:06So if access is already happening below 18, the real question is, will raising the age change behavior without stronger
02:14enforcement?
02:16Meanwhile, President of the UWE Student Guild, Joshua Jitter, tells TV6 the proposed changes should be guided by evidence,
02:25with data needed to demonstrate that raising the thresholds will achieve the intended outcome.
02:31Jitter says meaningful consultations will also be critical before the new limits take effect.
02:39I would like to see what data is being used to make this type of derivation.
02:44However, in my opinion, I believe as an adult, when you turn 18, you should be allotted the right to
02:52choose.
02:53However, again, if there is enough reasonable evidence to show that this type of legislation could benefit us as a
03:01youth population and a nation, I will be in support of it.
03:05Nicole M. Romany, TV6 News.
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