ComPol Forced to Ease Up on Rigidly Enforcing Liquor Licensing Act

Chester Williams

The Government of Belize has revised existing legislation that pertains to the sale of alcoholic beverage by particular classes of license holders on specific days, including Christmas and New Year’s.  The initial announcement was made via a cabinet release on December twenty-fourth.  Earlier this week, a schedule was formally released indicating the opening hours for businesses that fit within those particular categories.  But is the Commissioner of Police hamstrung by government’s recent decision, considering the heavy-handed approach with which he attempted to enforce the existing regulations?

Chester Williams, Commissioner of Police

“I wouldn’t say that the law would tie my hands.  As the Commissioner of Police, my duty is to ensure that the law is enforced.  Whether I like the law or not, it is my duty to make sure that it is enforced and the government’s proposal to amend the Intoxicating Liquor Licensing Act to allow the sale of alcohol or the opening of liquor on holidays, like Christmas and so forth, is a matter for the government to decide and if or when it is done, it is the police’s duty to ensure that we comply with the law.  However, I am certain that in the process of revising the law the police will be consulted and we will have our input, and one of the main things I want to see is that while we’re going to allow the sale of alcohol to be more, I would also like to see that there is more responsibility placed on persons who consume alcohol and commit crime, particularly drunk driving.”