In a groundbreaking move to safeguard public health, Belize’s Minister of Health and Wellness, Kevin Bernard, unveiled the Tobacco Control Bill 2025 in the House of Representatives on October 17, 2025. Described as a “decisive step” toward protecting the nation’s youth and future generations, the bill aligns with the World Health Organization’s Framework Convention on Tobacco Control. It aims to regulate the sale, advertising, packaging, and labeling of tobacco and nicotine-related products, including e-cigarettes, while banning the tobacco industry’s involvement in health policy decisions. Bernard emphasized the urgency of the crisis, citing WHO data that reveals tobacco kills over eight million people annually, including 1.2 million non-smokers exposed to secondhand smoke. In Belize, 8.7% of adults and 15% of youth aged 13 to 15 use tobacco, with e-cigarette use among teens reaching 12%. The bill, backed by the Cabinet and international health organizations like PAHO and WHO, seeks to prevent the tobacco epidemic through effective legislation. Bernard called on lawmakers to prioritize public health over industry profits, warning of potential resistance from powerful tobacco manufacturers. The bill’s introduction marks the beginning of parliamentary debate, with Bernard urging unity to save lives and protect the nation’s youth.