PNM defends decision not to support age-limit bill

Akash Sama­roo

The Peo­ple’s Na­tion­al Move­ment says it vot­ed against the Gov­ern­ment’s sweep­ing leg­is­la­tion rais­ing the le­gal ages for al­co­hol, to­bac­co, cannabis and gam­bling be­cause it be­lieved a Bill with such far-reach­ing con­se­quences re­quired greater scruti­ny and pub­lic con­sul­ta­tion.

Ex­plain­ing its de­ci­sion not to sup­port the Mis­cel­la­neous Pro­vi­sions (Al­co­hol, Cannabis, Dan­ger­ous Drugs, Gam­bling and To­bac­co) Bill, 2026, the Op­po­si­tion said it had sought to have the leg­is­la­tion re­ferred to a Joint Se­lect Com­mit­tee (JSC).