The Ministry of Legal Affairs is reminding bar owners of the charges they could face for allowing drunkenness on their properties.

In a statement today, Attorney General Anil Nandlall warned that bar owners and operators, who are caught selling alcoholic beverages to minors, and or active drivers, or allow drunkenness to occur on their premises, will be hauled before the Court to face charges and prosecution in keeping with updated legislation that has been signed into law.

He said bar owners who are not in compliance with their obligations under the Intoxicating Liquor Licensing Amendment Act, will be charged and prosecuted.

The Attorney General issued the warning today amid concern about the increasing number of vehicular accidents linked to drunk driving.

Minister Nandlall said while the Intoxicating Liquor Licensing Act was amended in 2022 to create a mechanism for licence holders to be more accountable, reports indicate that those license holders are not fulfilling their obligations under the Law to prevent drinking and driving.

“Unfortunately, based upon reports and complaints received, it appears that license holders, particularly bar owners, have not been in compliance with their obligations imposed under the Intoxicating Liquor Licensing (Amendment) Act,” the Attorney General said, even as he appealed to bar owners to play their part in the promotion of the public good and the preservation of a safe society, free from drunken driving.

Under the Amended Act, license owners and or their servants, are required to verify the age of a person before selling them intoxicating liquor or even allowing them into any bar on the licensed premises.

The updated legislation also prohibits bar owners from permitting drunkenness on their premises, and from selling intoxicating liquor to a person who is likely to leave the premises by driving.

The law mandates bar owners and operators to post signs that discourage drinking and driving at conspicuous places on the licensed premises, and ensure that announcements are made at regular intervals on the premises that persons should not drink and drive.

Bar owners who are found guilty of flouting the laws, could face a fine of $100,00 for their first offence, and $200,000 for their second offence.

In an attempt to discourage drinking and driving, the Parliament of Guyana has increased penalties in both the Motor Vehicle Road Traffic Act and the Intoxicating Liquor Licensing Act, but today, the number of accidents linked to drunk driving remain a concern.  

“The Government of Guyana continues to be concerned with the senseless deaths on our roadways which, many times, are attributable to drunken driving. Mindful of this reality, and in an effort to combat the devastating effects which are caused by drunken driving, amendments to several pieces of legislation, including the Motor Vehicle and Road Traffic Act and the Intoxicating Liquor Licensing Act were enacted and came into operation in 2022,” the Attorney General said.

In February, the Ministry of Home Affairs disclosed a 100% increase in deadly vehicle accidents. The number of road deaths remain on a steady rise.

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