Belize’s top public health body is moving forward with plans to address a growing youth alcohol crisis, with a potential ban on the country’s iconic low-cost high-proof spirit Red Top firmly on the table, according to senior government officials.
Health Minister Kevin Bernard confirmed in an exclusive interview with local outlet Plus News that the proposed restriction on the overproof rum is part of a broader push to tackle widespread alcohol abuse and the cascade of chronic preventable health issues it has created across the Central American nation. The initiative expands the government’s ongoing public health work beyond existing regulations targeting sugary beverages in schools, and also includes updates to national tobacco control legislation that are currently under review.
Bernard highlighted that cheap, high-strength alcohol sold in small, easily accessible containers has emerged as an increasingly urgent public threat, particularly for Belize’s younger population. “We are looking at the possible ban of Red Top, those strong rum in those small containers that are killing our young people,” he told reporters. “We have to look at possible leverage, some sin tax as well in terms of addressing the issues of alcohol abuse that is plaguing our country especially in our young population.”
Also marketed under the name Old Master Over Proof Rum, Red Top is a domestically produced spirit manufactured by local company L&R Liquors. The beverage has earned widespread popularity across Belize for its extremely high alcohol content and accessible low price point, making it particularly popular among underage drinkers and young adults with limited disposable income.
Public health officials confirm that unregulated alcohol abuse, concentrated among adolescents and young adults, has escalated into one of the country’s most pressing preventable public health crises in recent years. The Ministry of Health and Wellness has not yet announced a timeline for finalizing the proposed ban or sin tax measure, but officials note that action is expected in the coming months as the government prioritizes youth public health outcomes.