By Charles Gladden

BELIZE CITY, Fri. Aug. 22, 2025

   A bill is being prepared for legislation to regulate tobacco use, packaging, and advertising in Belize.

   The bill has already been endorsed by the Cabinet and is set to be introduced in the National Assembly to reduce tobacco-related harm and align with international standards.

   The bill is comprehensive and will regulate not only traditional tobacco products, but also novel tobacco products. It’ll also introduce strong regulatory measures to set standards for tobacco product packaging and labelling and advertising and promotion, as well as to ensure the protection of youth and vulnerable populations, the establishment of smoking restrictions in public spaces, and the accountability of the tobacco industry.

   The tobacco industry is expected to generate an estimated $988.4 billion in 2025, with 1.3 billion people consuming tobacco globally, whether through cigarette smoking or the use of other tobacco products.

   In Belize, 8.7% of the population used tobacco products in 2022. Out of 25,000 teens, 12.3% between the ages of 13 and 15 are using tobacco-based products; while 1.9% of female adults and 15.5% of male adults use tobacco products.

   There is also an increased incidence of lung cancer diagnoses, with 114.7 per 100,000 persons in the population receiving such a diagnosis, which can also be attributed to secondhand smoke.

   A forum held in late July by the Ministry of Health entitled, “Towards a Smoke-Free and Emission-Free Latin America” emphasized the government’s duty to protect its citizens by enacting laws to enforce 100 percent smoke-free public spaces.

   With Belize having no regulations or laws regarding smoking, the tobacco control bill will prevent the tobacco industry from marketing new products that look like toys to children and adolescents.

   Those toys come in the form of e-cigarettes, vape pens, and hookahs, which are popular among 13 and 15-year-olds. In some countries—Argentina, Brazil, Mexico, Panama, and Suriname— the marketing of those products has been banned.

   Multiple regulations have been implemented in some countries to establish smoke-free spaces.  Countries like Uruguay have eliminated smoking in public spaces, which resulted in a reduction in lung cancer-related deaths, and hospital admissions for heart disease fell by 17% between 2004 and 2010.

   Countries such as Jamaica, Guyana, and Puerto Rico saw an increase of over 12% in visitors after the tobacco ban was implemented.