Legal Drinking Age In Ottawa Canada

Legal Drinking Age In Ottawa Canada Average ratng: 6,8/10 8640 votes

Are you of legal drinking age? Elly Ayling is an illustrator and designer based in Ottawa, Ontario, Canada. Soft subjects with punchy palettes are her. The age of majority in Canada is the age at which a person is considered by law to be an adult. A person younger than the age of majority is considered a 'minor child.' Like the drinking age, the age of majority in Canada is determined by each province and territory in Canada and varies between the ages of 18 and 19. The legal drinking age in Canada varies in the different provinces and territories that make up the country. A lot of people are under the assumption that there is a separate law on the drinking age in Canada for American citizens. The legal drinking age is not the same across Canada, it is set by each province. In Alberta it’s 18, but take note if you cross over into nearby B.C. This is for both consuming alcohol and purchasing alcohol. For smoking laws see http://health.findlaw.ca/article/smoking-laws-by-province/. In 2019, 85% of the beer consumed in Canada was brewed in Canada. In 2019, Canadians of legal drinking age consumed on average 71.2 litres of beer, a decline of 4.6% from 2018. Provincially, Newfoundland had the highest per capita consumption at 87.4 litres of beer, followed by Quebec with 80.5 and P.E.I with 76.7 litres.

Know what counts as impaired driving – and the penalties you could face for it – before you get behind the wheel.

How drugs and alcohol affect your driving

Many drugs, even those prescribed by a doctor or purchased over-the-counter, can impair your ability to drive safely. For example, smoking, vaping or eating cannabis can increase your risk of being involved in a motor vehicle collision. If you are unsure of whether it is safe for you to drive while taking your medication, talk to your doctor or pharmacist.

The Canadian Society of Forensic Science recently released a report stating that impairment from cannabis begins almost immediately and can last up to 6 hours or more, depending on factors such as THC levels and how it is consumed. Frequent high-dose THC users may experience even longer periods of impairment. However, since the effects of cannabis vary, there is no way to know exactly how long to wait before it is safe for you to drive. The best way to avoid impaired driving is to not take a chance. If you’re using cannabis, plan another way home.

Alcohol — even one drink — can reduce your ability to react to things that happen suddenly. The effects of alcohol also include blurred or double vision, impaired attention and slowed reflexes. Alcohol-impaired driving is one of the leading causes of death on Ontario’s roads.

What counts as impaired driving

Impaired driving means operating a vehicle (including cars, trucks, boats, snowmobiles and off-road vehicles) while your ability to do so has been compromised to any degree by consuming alcohol, drugs or a combination of the two.

Fully Licensed Drivers

Throughout Canada, the maximum legal blood alcohol concentration (BAC) for fully licensed drivers is to be under 80 milligrams of alcohol in 100 millilitres of blood, or 0.08. Driving with a BAC of 0.08 or over is a criminal offence and the penalties are severe.

In Ontario, you will also face serious consequences if your BAC is between 0.05 and 0.08. This is commonly referred to as the “warn range.”

Age

If police determine that you are driving while impaired by any drug, including illegal drugs, cannabis, prescription and over-the-counter medications, you will face severe consequences and criminal charges.

Zero tolerance for young, novice and commercial drivers

Young and Novice Drivers

Drivers age 21 or under and novice drivers of any age (with G1, G2, M1, or M2 licenses) must not have any presence of alcohol in their blood when behind the wheel. This is commonly referred to as the “zero BAC” or “zero tolerance” rule.

Young and novice drivers are prohibited from having any presence of cannabis in their system as well as other drugs that can be detected using approved drug screening equipment. That means that Ontario has a zero tolerance approach to both alcohol and drugs for all young and novice drivers.

If police determine that you have the presence of cannabis or alcohol in your system and/or that you are impaired by any substance including illegal drugs, prescription drugs or over-the-counter medications, you will face severe consequences and potential criminal charges.

Commercial Drivers

As of July 1, 2018 drivers of vehicles requiring an A-F class licence, vehicles requiring a Commercial Vehicle Operator's Registration (CVOR) and road building machines are prohibited from having any presence of alcohol in their blood when behind the wheel of these types of vehicles. These drivers are also prohibited from having any presence of cannabis in their system as well as other drugs that can be detected by an approved drug screening equipment.

If police determine that you have the presence of cannabis or alcohol in your system and/or that you are impaired by any substance including illegal drugs, prescription drugs or over-the-counter medications, you will face severe consequences and potential criminal charges.

Medical Cannabis Users

If a police officer is satisfied that you are legally authorized to use cannabis for medical purposes, you will not be subject to Ontario’s zero tolerance drug requirements for young, novice and commercial drivers. However, you can still face penalties and criminal charges if a police officer determines that your ability to drive has been impaired. Even if you have been authorized to use cannabis or another drug by a health care professional, it is your responsibility to ensure you are not impaired while driving.

Penalties for impaired driving

If police determine that you are driving while impaired you will face penalties immediately. You will also face additional consequences later if you are convicted in court. The penalties you face can vary depending on your age, licence type, the amount of alcohol or drugs in your system, and how many times you have been convicted.

Immediate Penalties

Penalties for a BAC in the Warn Range, Failing a Standardized Field Sobriety Test or Violating Zero Tolerance

If your blood alcohol concentration is 0.05 or higher, you fail a roadside sobriety test or you violate the zero tolerance requirements for young, novice and commercial drivers that begin on July 1, you will face:

First offence

  • 3-day licence suspension. This cannot be appealed.
  • $250 penalty

Second offence within 5 years

Can You Drink At 16 In Canada

  • 7-day licence suspension (3-day suspension for commercial drivers). This cannot be appealed.
  • $350 penalty
  • You must attend a mandatory education program (for a second occurrence within 10 years)

Third and subsequent offences within 5 years

  • 30-day licence suspension (3-day suspension for commercial drivers). This cannot be appealed.
  • $450 penalty
  • You must attend a mandatory treatment program (for third and subsequent offence within 10 years)
  • You will be required to use an ignition interlock device for at least six months (for third and subsequent offence within 10 years)
  • You will need to undergo a mandatory medical evaluation to determine whether you meet the requirements for driving in Ontario (for fourth and subsequent offence within 10 years).

In addition to the penalties above, you will also face a $281 licence reinstatement fee each time your licence is suspended. Young or novice drivers may also be charged under the Highway Traffic Act and if convicted, you will face an additional suspension and fine.

Penalties for a BAC Over the Legal Limit, Refuse Testing or Impairment

If you refuse to take a drug or alcohol test, you register a BAC over 0.08 or if a drug recognition evaluator determines that you are impaired, you will face:

  • 90-day licence suspension
  • 7-day vehicle impoundment
  • $550 penalty
  • $281 licence reinstatement fee
  • You must attend a mandatory education or treatment program (for second and subsequent occurrences within 10 years)
  • You will be required to use an ignition interlock device for at least 6 months (for third and subsequent occurrences within 10 years)

Additional Penalties if Convicted in Court

If you are a young or novice driver convicted in court for violating the zero tolerance requirements for drugs and/or alcohol, your driver's licence will be suspended again for at least 30 days and you will receive an additional $60-$500 fine.

No matter what age or licence you have, if you are convicted criminally of impaired driving in court, you can face additional fines and jail time, plus:

First offence

  • Licence suspension of at least 1 year
  • You must attend a mandatory education or treatment program
  • Requirement to use an ignition interlock device for at least 1 year
  • You will need to undergo a mandatory medical evaluation to determine whether you meet the requirements for driving in Ontario

Second offence within 10 years

  • Licence suspension of at least 3 years
  • You must attend a mandatory education or treatment program
  • Requirement to use an ignition interlock device for at least 3 years
  • You will need to undergo a mandatory medical evaluation to determine whether you meet the requirements for driving in Ontario

Third or more offence within 10 years

  • Lifetime licence suspension, which may be reduced after 10 years if you meet certain criteria
  • You must attend a mandatory education or treatment program
  • Requirement to use an ignition interlock device for at least 6 years
  • You will need to undergo a mandatory medical evaluation to determine whether you meet the requirements for driving in Ontario

How police detect impaired drivers

Ontario has police officers who are trained to detect impaired drivers and remove them from the road.

Standardized Field Sobriety Test

If a police officer suspects that a driver is impaired by drugs or alcohol, the officer may carry out a roadside standardized field sobriety test. If a driver fails the test, they can be immediately suspended from driving and face criminal impaired driving charges.

Breath Testing

A police officer in the lawful exercise of their powers can demand a breath sample at the roadside from any driver they stop, to determine the individual’s blood alcohol concentration. If a driver fails the test, or refuses to take it, they can be immediately suspended from driving and face criminal impaired driving or related charges.

Drug Recognition Evaluation

If an officer has reasonable grounds to believe that a driver is impaired, a drug recognition evaluation may be carried out by a qualified officer at a police station. The test helps determine if the impairment is caused by drugs. If a driver fails the test, they can be immediately suspended from driving and face criminal impaired driving charges.

Approved Drug Screening Devices

If a police officer suspects that a driver has drugs in the body, they may demand an oral fluid sample. If presence of a drug is detected, young, novice and commercial drivers can be immediately suspended from driving.

Tips to avoid impaired driving

There are simple steps you can take to avoid driving while you're impaired by drugs or alcohol:

  • Have a plan to get home safely. Have a designated driver, use public transit, call a friend or family member for a ride, call a taxi or ride share, or stay overnight.
  • Ask your doctor or pharmacist about side effects related to driving when using prescription medication.
  • Read the information on the package of any prescription drugs or over-the-counter medicine, including allergy and cold remedies.
  • Ask your doctor or pharmacist about how a prescription drug could affect you. Remember that combining drugs and alcohol together can impair your ability to drive more than using either one alone.

Recommended for you

  • Ontario’s new rules for cannabis
  • Ignition interlock program
  • Reduced suspension with ignition interlock program

Legal Drinking Age In Canada

There is no national legal drinking age in Canada. Instead, rules around alcohol and drug consumption are done by each province individually - including setting a minimum drinking age.

In Alberta, Manitoba, and Quebec, the legal drinking age is 18. But in British Columbia, Saskatchewan, New Brunswick, Newfoundland and Labrador, Nova Scotia, the Northwest Territories, Nunavut, Prince Edward Island (P.E.I.), Ontario, and the Yukon, the limit is 19 years of age.

According to the Canadian Centre for Substance Abuse (CCSA), alcohol is the leading psychoactive substance used by youth and young adults (ages 15 to 24) in the country. In addition, the CCSA notes alcohol is the leading cause of mortality in youth and young adults (ages 10 to 24) worldwide.

With evidence of its effects on mental and physical development in adolescents, alcohol use among youth has been the source of much debate in Canada.

Changing The Legal Age

Some recommend the legal drinking age be bumped back to 21 country-wide, as it was before provinces lowered it in the 1970s, while others would be satisfied to see Alberta, Quebec, and Manitoba follow the lead of other provinces and make 19 the legal drinking age.

The 1970s move was made to align drinking ages with the age of majority (18 years), but Ontario and Saskatchewan were the first to raise limits to 19 years to combat a noticeable increase in alcohol consumption among high school students.

Other provinces followed suit, with P.E.I. being the last to move to a drinking age of 19 in 1987.

Issues Relating To Alcohol Consumption

Studies have shown as the minimum legal drinking age increases, instances of car crashes and alcohol consumption among youth decreases in turn. Based on the findings of the study, it is estimated if the drinking age was raised to be 19 across the country, about seven 18-year-old males would be prevented from death each year. If the limit was raised to age 21, it is estimated about 32 lives would be saved per year.

In another study, completed at the University of Northern B.C., evidence showed hospitalizations and injuries due to alcohol would reduce if the legal drinking age was moved to just 19 years old for all provinces. The results of the study revealed a 15 to 20% increase in the number of young people in the hospital at age 18 or 19, depending on the province.

Research shows instances of alcohol abuse, alcohol poisoning, and other related illnesses or issues due to consumption would decrease among youth if the legal drinking age was raised.

In addition, the study points to the potential to save infrastructure and taxpayer dollars, removing some of the burdens from emergency rooms and first responders.