Legal drinking age

The legal drinking age in British Columbia is age 19.

Minors

Minors are allowed in food-primary establishments (restaurants licensed to serve liquor), but may not be served any alcoholic beverages.

Minors are generally not allowed in liquor-primary establishments (bars, pubs, nightclubs, etc), unless they are working as entertainers or the establishment's primary function is not to serve liquor (it is a licensed stadium, concert hall, train or airplane, for example).

ID requirements

You and your employees must ask, when verifying a customer's age, for two pieces of identification.

The first ID (a driver's licence or passport, for example) must include:

• name
• photo
• date of birth, and
• signature.

The second ID (a Care Card or credit card, for example) must include:

• name
• photo or signature.

If a restaurant has any doubts about a customer's ID, the customer will not be served liquor. If a bar, pub or nightclub has any doubts about a customer's ID, the customer will not be allowed in.

Carrying liquor in a motor vehicle

You are allowed to carry liquor in a motor vehicle provided it is sealed and not readily accessible to anyone in the motor vehicle (stored behind the seat, in the trunk, etc.)

Taking home unfinished bottles of wine

You may take home a bottle of unfinished wine from a licensed establishment, but it must be sealed for you by an employee of the restaurant, bar, pub, etc., and, if you are driving, you must transport it properly - not readily accessible to anyone in the motor vehicle (stored behind the seat, in the trunk, etc.)

Drinking in a public place

You are not allowed to drink alcohol in a public place - such as a street or a park - unless it has been specially approved as a place where drinking may occur (during a street party or community festival, for example). You may drink alcohol outside at your home or at your campsite.

Police powers

The police may arrest you if you are found intoxicated (drunk) in a public place.

They may also seize your liquor if you are found drinking or selling it in a public place, supplying it to minors, or driving with an open liquor bottle in the car. (Please see Liquor seizures and how to get your liquor back for more on this.)

See:
Liquor Licensing in BC
What everyone should know about BC's liquor laws
Licence classes
Serving It Right: The Responsible Beverage Service Program
Criminal record search
The role of local government in liquor licensing
Basic rules for liquor licensees
Liquor advertising
Inspections and enforcement
Liquor seizures and how to get your liquor back
Rules for making or importing non-beverage alcohol
Grain (Ethyl) Alcohol
Complaints or concerns
Industry associations and other useful links

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