Who cares at what age you buy alcohol? Canada does. That is why a Canadian restaurant is going to remain closed for 10 days as punishment for breaking the law.
In Canada’s British Columbia, the legal age for consuming alcohol is 19. Yet a waiter at Taaz Indian Restaurant in British Columbia served a teenager below that age a Corona beer. The incident occurred towards the end of last year, but the case has just been determined.
Canada is among the countries that observe the minimum drinking age
In many countries, the law prohibits the sale of alcohol to teenagers below 18 years. However, many of them do not adhere strictly to those laws.
Instead, they choose to assess the buyer’s age by their appearance, probably motivated by the prospect of making an extra sale. This is not so in Canada.
As of the close of business on 8th April 2026, Taaz Indian Restaurant is to remain closed for 10 days.
According to investigators, the restaurant staff failed to demand the teenager’s identification on the day of the offense. The hotel admitted the offense, hence the 10-day license suspension.
British Columbia Engages “minor agents” to Check Adherence to Liquor Laws.
Canada’s province of British Columbia employs youth to test whether liquor sellers are adhering to the laid-down rules. Those teenagers go out on secret shopping missions assigned by the Liquor and Cannabis Regulation Branch (LCRB), under the Minor as Agents Program (MAP).
The penalty for selling liquor to a minor agent is either license suspension or a fine of $7,000 to $11,000.