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You think she's under 19?? - Ottawa
You think she's under 19??
by Wolverine_13
Ottawa Local Customs: Travel tips and advice posted by real travelers and Ottawa locals.
Drinking/Buying alcohol
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• 13 Reviews

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Drinking/Buying alcohol: Legal Drinking age
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  • The Legal Drinking Age for the Province of Ontario is 19.

    It is against the law to have open containers in public places (i.e. drinking a beer while standing in the middle of a mall will probably get you into trouble). As mentioned in the section above, it is also illegal to have an open container in a motor vehicle.

    Liquor service is for consumption on the premises only, and is permitted between 11am and 2am Monday to Saturday, and from noon to 2am on Sunday.

    Liquor is sold retail in Ontario only at government-licensed liquor, beer and wine stores, to persons aged nineteen and above. It cannot be bought from grocery, corner or general stores. It cannot be purchased from bars, restaurants or hotel lounges.

    You can buy beer at The Beer Store, or for harder liquors, the LCBO.

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    Drinking/Buying alcohol: Not a party town
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  • Ottawa doesn't tend to be a late night party town though most bars and pubs are open until 2 a.m. But a short bus or taxi ride across the river to Hull, Quebec and you can party all night!

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    Drinking/Buying alcohol: The Beer Store - The Greatest Place On Earth!!
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  • Alright, in Ontario there's a monopoly on liqour, wine and beer controlled by the L.C.B.O. The Beer Store is the best place to buy beer in Ontario (and not only cause I work there!), it has the widest range of beer products (my store has 253 different kinds of beer, in over 900 different packages, 'nuff said!!), as well all of its products are cold, and the majority are cheaper then the L.C.B.O. Their are quite a few Beer Stores in Ottawa (about 14), some are self-serve and some you chose a beer from the world-famous beer wall (people actually take pictures of this thing!!) with all the different beers, and prices. Order it, and the cashier runs back and sends the beer of the roller. Feel free to ask the server any questions you may have about beer, they have to take a training program to learn about different types of beer, etc. Finally the Beer Store is NOT owned by the government (like the LC.B.O.), it is owned by Labatts, Molson, and Sleemans (three of the largest beer companies in Canada), but it is governed by the L.C.B.O.
    Average prices:

    6 beers - $9-10
    12 beers - $17-19
    24 beers - $28-33

    (note: beer is pretty pricey, and bars are even worse, this is due to the fact that roughly 56% of the price of beer is taxes!!!! This is the highest in the world, and no you can't claim this.

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    Drinking/Buying alcohol: Drink when you hear sociable!
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  • As you approach the maritimes in Canada, you'll start to notice many weird drinking activities.. One of these activities is calling out "sociable!" at the top of your lungs..if you're in a bar, and someone calls out "sociable", then you have to raise your glass, repeat the chant, and have a big drink!

    Be thankful you're not in Newfoundland: you may have to kiss a carp there!

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    Drinking/Buying alcohol: Drinking & Smoking Age
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  • You think she's under 19?? - Ottawa
    You think she's under 19??
    by Wolverine_13
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    In Ontario the drinking age and smoking age is 19 years old. If you look 25 years and under you will be carded at the Beer Store, and the L.C.B.O. as well as most nightclubs and bars. Don't count on getting into a club if your around 19 (or look young) and don't have your ID, it won't happen. If your 18, Hull or Gatineau is just a stones throw away from downtown, and they have plenty of bars and nightclubs.

    Smoking is the same thing, if you look under 30 (I know), the'll probably ask you. if you don't have ID, they will not sell you smokes at all. Like I said Quebec is just over the bridge and their age is 18.

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    Drinking/Buying alcohol: L.C.B.O. - Ontario's Only Place To Shop For Booze
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  • You cannot buy liqour at corner stores or your local market in Ontario, you can only buy it here. Trust though this place has an incredible selection of anything you can possibly want from vodka to scotch to wine to coolers to rum to liqours, etc. Once again prices are expensive in Ontario, a 750mL of rum is rougly $20. The place is very well-maintained (good eye candy), the have sampling sometimes, deals, etc. Worth a look if your in the mood for some bubbly. They do sell beer here, but its not that great of a selection, and is more expensive then the Beer Store if your buying alot. (about $5-7 more). Check the website for locations.

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  • Website: www.lcbo.ca
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    Drinking/Buying alcohol: Alcohol
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  • The legal drinking age in the province of Ontario is 19 years. It is illegal to drink alcohol anywhere that is outside of either a licensed premise, a private residence or wherever you are staying (hostel, hotel, camping spot).

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    Drinking/Buying alcohol: Buying alcool is weird and...
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  • Buying alcool is weird and kinda annoying in Ontario. Contrarily to Quebec, where you can buy beer at every corner store, here, you can only buy them in beer stores! You go in (people 25 and under be prepared to show i.d.) and you look at the wall where all the choice of beers are exposed. THEN, you go in line and tell this person what you want. Then the person calls the backstore and your case comes rolling on some rolling slide thing...anyways.

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    Drinking/Buying alcohol: Enjoy a Ceasar - this is...
    Enjoy a Ceasar - this is similar to an American Bloody Mary but is made with clamato juice - mmmmm!

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    Drinking/Buying alcohol: Selection is Excellent, Will probably seem pricey
    In Canada, Alcohol can only be sold in goverment licenced stores. The regulations on alcohol are provincially controlled, and vary slightly from province to province. In Ontario the legal drinking age is 19. Alcohol tax is high, and it will seem expensive to many foreingers.

    The stores where alcohol is sold are:
    The Beer Store - Beer only
    Vintages - Wine (Ontario wines only), and sometimes liquers that are under 20% ABV
    The LCBO (Liquor Contol Board of Ontario) - They sell beer, wine and spirits. They have an amazing selection of all types of alcoholic beverages. The beer selection is not as good as The Beer Store, but they usually have some beers that The Beer Store does not carry (mainly imports)

    Beer, wine and Liquor stores generally close between 8-11PM (9 is average) Mon-Sat and 5:30-6:00 PM on Sunday.

    Expect to be asked for ID if you look under 25. For some reason The Beer Store is much more strict with ID. The LCBO and Vintages rarely ask unless you look really young.

    Expect to be ID'd at nightclubs and bars Bars close at 2AM in Ottawa. Alcohol can be served from 11AM to 2AM in licenced facilities. Alcohol may not be consumed outside of a residence or licenced establishment.

    Across the river in Hull the rules are a little more lax. Beer and wine can be bought at conveinience stores, known as Deppaneurs over there. Liquor can only be bought at an SAQ, Quebec's equivelant of the LCBO. The drinking age is 18 in quebec, and alcohol can be served until 3AM.
    Beer and wine can be sold in stores up to 11PM 7 days a week. This is convienent if you need a botttle of wine or some beer to go with dinner on a sunday evening and you forgot to get to the Ontario stores.

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