Temporary Ban on Alcohol Sales in The Bahamas During General Elections

May 9, 2026, 19:06
InternationalPolitics

Introduction

The Bahamian government has ordered a temporary stop to alcohol sales on May 12 to coincide with the national elections.

Main Body

The Parliamentary Commissioner and the Ministry of National Security have announced a nationwide ban on the sale and distribution of alcohol from 08:00 to 18:00 on Tuesday, May 12. This measure is based on legal rules designed to maintain public order during the voting process. Consequently, any business that does not follow this order will have its business license cancelled immediately. This rule applies to all Bahamian territories, including private islands such as CocoCay and Castaway Cay. Therefore, major cruise lines like Royal Caribbean, MSC, and Disney must follow these laws. While drinking on land is forbidden, alcohol can still be sold and consumed on the ships themselves. Different companies have responded to these rules in various ways. For example, Royal Caribbean confirmed it will follow the law and is offering a 50 percent onboard credit refund to guests who booked the Royal Beach Club Paradise Island for that day. Furthermore, some cruise operators have changed their travel plans to avoid these areas entirely. However, some passengers have expressed disappointment, stating that they were not notified in time.

Conclusion

Alcohol sales are forbidden on all Bahamian land during the specified election hours, although services on ships will continue as usual.

Learning

⚑ The 'Connector' Jump: From Simple to Sophisticated

At the A2 level, you probably use and, but, and because for everything. To hit B2, you need to move toward Logical Connectors. These are words that act like road signs, telling the reader exactly how two ideas relate.

πŸ› οΈ The Upgrade Path

Look at how the text transforms simple ideas into professional English:

  • Instead of "So..." β†’\rightarrow Use Consequently / Therefore

    • A2: The law is strict, so the license will be cancelled.
    • B2: "...Consequently, any business that does not follow this order will have its business license cancelled."
    • Why? It creates a stronger cause-and-effect link.

  • Instead of "Also..." β†’\rightarrow Use Furthermore

    • A2: They gave refunds. Also, some ships changed their route.
    • B2: "Furthermore, some cruise operators have changed their travel plans..."
    • Why? It adds a new layer of information without sounding like a basic list.

  • Instead of "But..." β†’\rightarrow Use However / While

    • A2: Drinking on land is banned, but you can drink on ships.
    • B2: "While drinking on land is forbidden... alcohol can still be sold... on the ships."
    • Why? While allows you to contrast two facts in one elegant sentence.

πŸ’‘ Pro-Tip for B2 Fluency

Stop starting every sentence with the subject (e.g., "The company did this. The guests did that."). Use these connectors at the beginning of your sentences followed by a comma to instantly sound more academic and fluent:

Therefore, [Idea A] β†’\rightarrow [Result B]. However, [Idea A] β†’\rightarrow [Opposite B].

Vocabulary Learning

temporary (adj.)
lasting for a limited time
Example:The government announced a temporary ban on alcohol sales.
commissioner (n.)
an official who supervises a department or activity
Example:The Parliamentary Commissioner issued the order.
nationwide (adj.)
covering an entire country
Example:The ban applies nationwide across all Bahamian territories.
distribution (n.)
the act of giving out goods or services
Example:The distribution of alcohol was halted during the election.
maintain (v.)
to keep something in a particular state or condition
Example:The rules were designed to maintain public order.
public (adj.)
belonging to or affecting the people as a whole
Example:Public order was a key concern during the voting process.
order (n.)
a command or instruction given by an authority
Example:The order forbade alcohol sales from 08:00 to 18:00.
license (n.)
official permission to do something
Example:Businesses risk having their license cancelled if they violate the order.
cancelled (adj.)
terminated or stopped, especially officially
Example:The business license was cancelled immediately after the violation.
territories (n.)
areas under the jurisdiction of a government
Example:The ban covers all Bahamian territories, including private islands.
forbidden (adj.)
not allowed by law or rule
Example:Drinking on land is forbidden during the election hours.
responded (v.)
replied or reacted to a situation or request
Example:Different companies responded to the new rules in various ways.
various (adj.)
different kinds or types
Example:The companies offered various solutions to comply with the ban.
offering (n.)
a present or gift given to someone
Example:Royal Caribbean is offering a 50 percent onboard credit refund.
refund (n.)
money returned to a customer for a purchase
Example:Guests received a refund for their cancelled bookings.
expressed (v.)
said or stated something clearly
Example:Passengers expressed disappointment about the lack of notice.
notified (v.)
informed or told about something
Example:The passengers were not notified in time about the ban.
specified (adj.)
clearly defined or stated
Example:The election hours were specified in the government announcement.