Canadian Centre on Substance Use and Addiction Evidence. Engagement. Impact.
Canadian Centre on Substance Use and Addiction

Policy and Regulations

Alcohol can have a negative impact on people’s lives and results in significant costs to society. To help reduce the risks and harms of alcohol, there are laws, policies and regulations in place. CCSA has developed a number of reports on different topics to help inform the policies set out by governments.

Legal Drinking Age
in Canada

Legal Drinking Age in Canada

In Canada, each province and territory defines the legal drinking age. This regulates who can purchase, possess, consume and supply alcohol. Canada’s drinking-age laws have a significant impact on youth alcohol-related harms. For more information, please refer to The Impact and Effectiveness of Minimum Legal Drinking Age Legislation in Canada.

The legal drinking ages in Canada are:

  • Alberta
  • Manitoba
  • Quebec

  • British Columbia
  • New Brunswick
  • Newfoundland and Labrador
  • Northwest Territories
  • Nova Scotia
  • Nunavut
  • Ontario
  • Prince Edward Island
  • Saskatchewan
  • Yukon

Alcohol Pricing
in Canada

Alcohol Pricing in Canada

In Canada, alcohol is taxed based on excise duty rates for each type of beverage. This taxation is an effective way of controlling the availability and consumption of alcohol. It also helps support a culture of moderation. In general, higher prices mean lower consumption, which helps reduce potential risks and harms.

Based on existing Canadian examples of best practices, the National Alcohol Strategy Advisory Committee (NASAC) recommended that liquor boards and commissions:

  • Apply Social Reference Prices (SRPs) to all types of alcoholic beverages;
  • Ensure SRPs reflect the alcohol content of drinks within each major beverage class;
  • Regularly review, maintain and update the value of SRPs relative to provincial consumer price indexes; and
  • Close existing loopholes that allow the sale of alcohol below SRPs.

Enhanced Alcohol
Container Labels

Enhanced Alcohol Container Labels

Bottles, cans and other alcohol container labels in Canada are not required to display nutrition information, health warnings, standard drink information or low-risk alcohol drinking guidelines. This information would help people make more informed decisions about their alcohol consumption. Evidence also suggests that enhanced alcohol container labels:

  • Are supported by the public;
  • Can improve consumer knowledge of alcohol-related risks; and 
  • May help people decrease the amount of alcohol they purchase and consume.

 

Municipal Alcohol Policies
and Initiatives

Municipal Alcohol Policies and Initiatives

A municipal alcohol policy provides guidance on running safer events on municipally owned or managed property where alcohol is available. These venues include festivals, sport stadiums and community centres. These policies can:

  • Help keep neighbourhoods safe and enjoyable;
  • Address concerns about the risks and liability related to alcohol;
  • Set community expectations about alcohol consumption;
  • Foster community ownership through engagement;
  • Set conditions about the availability and access to alcohol; and
  • Support healthy lifestyles through community groups.

For more information about municipal alcohol policies, please see Municipal Alcohol Policy in Ontario: A Public Health Approach, The Nova Scotia Municipal Alcohol Project and The Municipal Alcohol Policy Program in British Columbia.

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