What everyone should know about B.C.'s liquor laws

See:
Legal drinking age
ID requirements
Minors
Drinking in a public place
Police powers
Liquor in a motor vehicle
Buying alcoholic beverages
Bringing your own wine or beer to restaurant, and taking home unfinished bottles of wine
Bringing alcoholic beverages into B.C. for your own personal consumption
Responsibilities of those who sell alcohol in B.C.
Consular liquor

Legal drinking age

The legal drinking age in British Columbia is 19 years of age.

ID requirements

It’s a good idea to have identification with you when purchasing alcohol in B.C. If a server believes you may be underage, they must verify your age by asking to see the following two pieces of ID:

• An official government issued ID (including official foreign government-issued IDs) with your name, signature, picture and birth date, such as a driver’s licence or passport.
• A secondary piece of ID that includes an imprint of your name and your signature or picture, such as a credit card.

If the server has any doubts about a customer’s ID, they may refuse service.

Minors

It’s against the law to purchase alcohol for someone who is underage.

If police catch a minor trying to purchase alcohol using false ID, the police may issue the minor a $115 fine.

Drinking in a public place

In B.C., 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 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.)

Liquor in a motor vehicle

Open liquor in a motor vehicle must not be readily accessible to anyone in the motor vehicle (stored behind the seat, in the trunk, etc.). Passengers are not permitted to consume alcohol in a moving vehicle.

Buying alcoholic beverages

You can purchase packaged liquor—such as a bottle of wine or a case of beer—at government liquor stores, or licensed private outlets, including specialty wine stores. Liquor is not sold in grocery stores and corner stores in B.C. 

Bars, pubs, restaurants, night clubs and stadiums sell drinks by-the-glass. You may not bring your own alcohol into these venues.

Taking home unfinished bottles of wine

You may take home an unfinished bottle of wine from a bar or restaurant, provided one of the servers seals it before you leave. If you are leaving by car, you must ensure it is not readily accessible to anyone in the vehicle while you are driving. (Store it behind the seat or in the trunk, etc.)

Bringing alcoholic beverages into B.C. for your own personal consumption

If you are visiting Canada or you have been away from Canada for at least 48 hours you may bring a small amount of liquor into B.C. duty free, provided you are 19 years of age or older.

You may bring up to:

Responsibilities of those who sell alcohol in B.C.

Licensees must follow provincial liquor laws and policies, to ensure safe and responsible liquor service. For example, there are strict limits on the hours of sale and the number of people they may allow in a licensed establishment at any given time. In addition, servers must refuse service to anyone who is intoxicated and ensure they leave safely.

Liquor inspectors and/or police visit licensed establishments—and will usually arrive unannounced—to ensure servers are complying with B.C. liquor laws. Licensees found not following the rules may receive a fine or suspension, or lose their licence.

Consular liquor

Foreign consulates can bring liquor into B.C. to serve at events hosted by the consul general at their consulate. They can also donate diplomatic or consular liquor to events at locations outside the consulate provided there is a charitable or fundraising component. After the event, the event organizers must return any unused product to the consulate. The charity or organization receiving the funds must obtain prior approval from the Director of Merchandise Services, Liquor Distribution Branch.

See:
Liquor Licensing in B.C.

What everyone should know about B.C.'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 (includes Internet Promotions)
Liquor Service at Isolated Sports & Recreation Lodges
Liquor Delivery Services
Non-Profit Liquor Clubs
Liquor and Boating
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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