The legal drinking age in a liquor sales licensed establishment in the province of Ontario is 19 years of age.
- You must check and verify identification of anyone who appears under 19 years of age before selling or serving liquor (Ontario Regulation 746/21: Licensing ).
- The sale of liquor to a person who appears to be under 19 years of age is prohibited under the Liquor Licence and Control Act, 2019 (LLCA).
- The possession of liquor by minors in retail stores is prohibited under the Registrar’s Standards for Grocery and Convenience Stores and the Registrar’s Interim Standards and Requirements for Liquor.
The minimum age to work in a liquor sales licensed establishment, authorized grocery store, or winery, distillery, or brewery retail store depends on whether or not the employee handles alcohol. If the employee will handle alcohol (including providing samples of alcohol), the minimum age to work in any of these establishments is 18 years of age.
Best practices for checking ID
Be consistent
- To make sure your patron is of legal age, you must ask for ID to verify the age of anyone who appears underage, every time.
- Do not make assumptions based on appearance, familiarity, or frequency of visits.
Take time to examine the ID
- Examine the ID by hand – do not rely on a quick glance.
- Check that the photo matches the individual and that the birthdate is accurate.
- Ensure the ID is valid, government-issued and not expired.
Ask questions when unsure
- Request a second piece of ID.
- Ask the customer to confirm details on the ID (e.g., birthdate, postal code).
Say "No" if the ID is not valid
- Decline sale or service and state that the law prohibits sale or service to minors.
- Be professional and courteous.
- Refer to signage.
- Request assistance from a supervisor / manager or colleague, if necessary.
Handling an abusive customer
- Sometimes, it is hard to tell if a patron is 19 years or older and asking for their ID can make them unhappy or upset
- Stay calm, professional and courteous.
- Stand your ground. By law, you are required to check a person’s ID if they appear underage.
- Request assistance from a supervisor or manager, if necessary.
- Notify the authorities (local police), if necessary.