The drinking age was raised to 18 in 1985 in Alberta, Manitoba and Quebec and to 19 in 1988 in the rest of the country. Illicit alcohol consumption can lead to serious consequences, including heavy fines and jail time. It is important to weigh the risks and benefits before making a decision about whether or not to use illegally. There are a few exceptions to the drinking age laws in Canada. For example, Albertans can drink alcohol on private property at any age with parental consent. And in Quebec, people in licensed establishments can drink alcohol with parental consent if they are accompanied by an adult. If you are in Montreal or elsewhere in Quebec, the legal age to consume alcohol in Quebec or the age of purchase is 18 years. Nunavut also has a legal drinking age of 19. • Social risks – Underage drinking can lead to social problems such as fights, vandalism, and truancy. It can also have a detrimental effect on family relationships. Even if you are of minimum drinking age, it is still important to exercise caution when drinking alcohol. If you are under the influence of alcohol, your judgment and coordination may be impaired, which can lead to accidents or other dangerous situations.

If you decide to drink alcohol, it is important to do so responsibly and in moderation. More recently, in 1987, Prince Edward Island raised the legal drinking age from 18 to 19; since that time, there have been no other changes to the MLDA in Canada. Toronto`s liquor laws are regulated by the Liquor Control Board of Ontario (LCBO). The legal drinking age in Toronto is 19. Alcohol can be consumed in public places such as restaurants, bars and parks. If you plan to buy alcohol or drink alcohol, you should know that the legal drinking age in Calgary, Edmonton or elsewhere in Alberta is 18. In the Northwest Territories, the legal drinking age is 19. A valid photo ID is required if you plan to purchase alcohol. If you are a new immigrant or visitor, please read these laws on alcohol in Canada and the possible consequences. Rules for alcohol consumption vary from province to province and city to city. For example, the legal drinking age in Montreal is 18.

In addition, alcohol can be purchased and consumed in public places such as parks and sidewalks, as long as it is not within sight of a school or daycare. In this guide to living in Canada, we will discuss the legal drinking age in Canada and the documents accepted to buy or drink alcohol. In Canada`s financial capital, the legal drinking age in Toronto or elsewhere in Ontario is 19. Each province has its own rules for alcohol consumption in terms of permission to sell alcohol, distribution of alcohol, minimum age restrictions for the person who consumes it, etc. In Canada, there is no state-defined age for the legal purchase or consumption of alcohol. Each province and territory can set its own minimum drinking age. The legal age to purchase is [13]: When we talk about the drinking age in Canada in general, there is no set age for the federal government to legally purchase or consume alcohol. Each province and territory has the right to set its own minimum drinking age. The legal drinking age in the various provinces of Canada is as follows: The legal drinking age in New Brunswick is 19. Summary table explaining the legal drinking age in Canada by province The legal age to consume alcohol at a licensed alcohol retail outlet in the province of Ontario is 19 years.

Underage drinking involves many risks, including: As in most other provinces, the legal drinking age in Nova Scotia is also 19. In Toronto, the legal drinking age is 19, as is the province of Ontario. However, the minimum age for the seller is 18 years. The legal drinking age in Vancouver, Surrey or elsewhere in British Columbia is 19. You must carry your photo ID. e.g. driver`s licence If you wish to purchase alcohol in a store, you will be asked for photo identification. Early before the 1970s, most Canadian provinces and territories had an MLDA for at least 20 or 21 years. In the 1970s, all provinces and territories in Canada lowered the legal drinking age from 20 or 21 to 18 or 19 close to the legally adult age group.

Everyone in Canada needs to know about these alcohol laws, which are really important, even if you don`t drink or buy alcohol. Here is a list of photo identification and documents that can be legally purchased or consumed in Canada as of October 2022: In the Prairies, the legal drinking age in Saskatoon, Regina, Moose Jaw or elsewhere in Saskatchewan is 19. You must carry your photo ID (listed below) if you wish to purchase alcohol. Statistics Canada conducts surveys on alcohol consumption in Canada, broken down by territory or province. [12] The average values for the country in 2006 are shown in the bottom row of the table. This article discusses various topics related to alcoholic beverages in Canada. The Canadian government defines an alcoholic beverage as “a beverage that contains 1.1% or more alcohol.” [1]. The minimum age to work at a licensed liquor outlet, licensed grocery store or winery, distillery or brewery retailer depends on whether the employee handles alcohol. If the employee handles alcohol (including providing alcohol samples), the minimum age to work in one of these establishments is 18.

If you are a tourist in Canada, you can present your own driver`s licence proving your identity and age. Under the Canadian Constitution, the responsibility for making laws and regulations relating to the sale and distribution of alcoholic beverages in Canada rests solely with the ten provinces. The three Canadian territories have also been granted similar autonomy in these matters under the provisions of federal legislation. A photo card issued by the Liquor Control Board of Ontario (LCBO) means that there is a separate agency (or agencies) in each province that is responsible for regulating the consumption and, in all cases, the sale of alcoholic beverages. Alberta is currently the only province to have fully privatized its spirits retail operations (AGLC retains a monopoly on the wholesale distribution of wine, distilled spirits and imported beer – the distribution itself is outsourced to a private operator). Most other jurisdictions have maintained full or near-total control over the sale of hard liquor, while allowing limited privatization of the country`s beer and wine sales. Make sure you are 18 if you want to buy or drink alcohol in Winnipeg or elsewhere in Manitoba. By law, no one can be required to present the Ontario Health Card, nor can the Health Number be collected. Employees should not ask you for an Ontario health card as identification, but if you offer it, they can accept it at their discretion. The Permanent Resident Card is an identity document and travel document for permanent residents of Canada that displays your photo and age card.

It is continually updated as jurisdictions adopt or revise their requirements with the assistance of Library of Congressional Law (Washington, DC) staff. • Economic risks – Alcohol consumption can lead to decreased productivity, absenteeism from work or school, and increased health care costs. A citizenship card is a card that proves your Canadian citizenship and must include your photo and date of birth for confirmation. The hours of sale of alcohol, both inside and outside the premises, are also determined by provincial and territorial jurisdiction, provided that the hours of sale outside the business premises do not coincide with the closing times. Many provinces and territories define the sale of hard liquor off-premises, either based on the volume of alcohol or on the basis of quantities that can only be sold during certain hours, which usually correspond to the hours of operation of a particular supplier. However, in some of them, it is also possible, in certain circumstances, to deviate from the applicable standard when applying for a dealer`s licence. On-site sales are permitted at the discretion of the venue, with hours of operation regulated by each province. An official document that identifies you as a citizen of a particular country and shows your photo and date of birth to identify your age. This card is for those who serve or have served in the Canadian Armed Forces and who must carry their photo and date of birth.

• Health risks – Alcohol can damage young people`s developing brains and lead to learning, memory and behavioural problems. It can also increase the risk of developing chronic diseases such as cancer. Throughout Yukon, you must be at least 19 years of age to consume alcohol. A secure Indian status card issued by the Canadian government However, there are a few exceptions to this rule. For example, alcohol consumption is not allowed in certain public places such as schools, hospitals and government buildings. In general, most provinces have banned “tied houses” (bars associated with a single liquor supplier) in favour of free homes that sell products from various suppliers. A partial exception applies to breweries where a bar and a brewery are located on the same premises.