Police to enforce no-glass-bottle zones during Vincy Mas celebrations 

By Val Matthias. Updated 2:09 p.m., Wednesday, June 17, 2026, Atlantic Standard Time (GMT-4).

People attending Vincy Mas events this year will not be allowed to move through designated carnival areas carrying drinks in glass bottles, according to acting Deputy Commissioner of Police Trevor Bailey.

Speaking at a CDC press conference on June 17, Mr Bailey said authorities intend to enforce the no-glass-bottle policy as part of wider measures aimed at maintaining safety during the national festival.

The policy is not new. The prohibition on glass bottles and glass containers was formally introduced in St. Vincent and the Grenadines in June 2006 under the Carnival Development Corporation (Restriction) Regulations and allows designated carnival zones to be declared bottle-free areas during festival activities.

Mr Bailey said government is expected to formally declare Kingstown and other official show venues as no-glass-bottle zones ahead of Carnival.

“The minister will make a declaration… before Carnival to declare the Kingstown area and all of the areas where shows have been taking place a no glass bottle zone,” he said.

Under the arrangement, vendors operating around carnival venues will be expected to serve beverages in plastic cups rather than distribute drinks in glass containers.

Mr Bailey warned that carrying alcoholic beverages through the streets in bottles would amount to a violation once the declaration takes effect.

“It is an offence to traverse the streets walking with your Guinness and your beer in the bottle,” he said.

According to the regulations, the restrictions apply not only to selling beverages in glass bottles but also to consuming or carrying glass containers within designated areas.

However, Mr Bailey indicated that police officers have been instructed to apply the policy with what he described as common sense and avoid unnecessary confrontation.

Rather than immediately confiscating and disposing of drinks, officers have been encouraged to ask patrons to transfer beverages into plastic containers or consume them before surrendering bottles.

“We don’t want to see an officer meet somebody with a Guinness and just pull it away and pour it on the ground,” he said.

Mr Bailey said police would seek voluntary compliance while maintaining public order.

The acting deputy commissioner also sought to reassure the public that there would be a visible security presence throughout the festival period and said there would be no shortage of officers in and around Kingstown during the celebrations.

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