Dear Editor,

There is a growing and deeply troubling trend taking root across Jamaica, one that demands urgent attention from both lawmakers and enforcers of the law. Underage access to alcohol, cigarettes, and vaping products has become alarmingly easy, and the consequences are now playing out in our schools and communities.

It is no longer uncommon for students to arrive at school events, whether sports days, jeans days, or fund-raising activities, carrying alcoholic beverages, sometimes even among the most expensive brands. These drinks are often cleverly disguised, allowing students to evade detection by school authorities. The result? Many of these young people end up intoxicated on school grounds, forcing administrators to call parents to collect children who should never have had access to such substances in the first place.

Even more concerning is the rise in vaping and the use of marijuana among students. There is mounting evidence of children engaging in these activities, not only during special events but, in some cases, during regular school hours whenever the opportunity presents itself. This is not experimentation on the fringes, it is becoming normalised behaviour.

The question must be asked: How are these children obtaining these substances so easily? The answer, in many cases, points directly to a lack of enforcement. Shops and individuals continue to sell alcohol, cigarettes, and vapes to minors, sometimes even to students in uniform, without consequence. This is unacceptable.

In countries like the United States, age verification is strictly enforced. Adults are routinely required to present identification when purchasing alcohol or even entering certain entertainment venues. Jamaica must adopt a similarly firm approach. Laws already exist, but without consistent enforcement and meaningful penalties, they serve little purpose.

It is time for Parliament and the relevant authorities to take decisive action. Vendors who sell to minors must be held accountable through strict penalties, including fines, licence suspension, or closure. There must also be increased monitoring and enforcement efforts, particularly in communities surrounding schools.

Protecting our children cannot be optional. If we fail to act now, we risk raising a generation for whom substance abuse is not the exception, but the norm.

Leecent Wallace

Principal

Christiana High School

leecentw@yahoo.com