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Minors and ID

Checking ID in BC

In BC, the legal drinking age is 19 and the rule is two pieces of ID. Here’s what the LCRB’s licence terms and the Serving It Right manual say about checking it.

ID check

To be 19 today, a customer must be born on or before

October 27, 2007

A date on an ID only helps if the ID itself is valid and belongs to the person. Check the photo, the expiry and the security features too.

When to ask for ID

If there is any doubt that a customer is 19 or older, ask for two pieces of ID, examine both and act on whether they’re authentic. If you can’t show you did this, you could be held responsible for serving a minor. You don’t need ID from someone who is clearly of age, like a senior, and an establishment can choose a stricter policy, such as checking everyone.

From the LCRB’s Liquor Primary and Food Primary Terms and Conditions handbooks (May 2026). Any primary ID can also be the second piece.
Primary IDSecondary ID
Must showName, date of birth and photoName, and signature or photo
Issued byA government agency (federal, provincial, territorial, First Nations or foreign)Anyone
ExamplesDriver’s licence (any province or state), passport, Photo BC Services Card, citizenship card, First Nations status card, firearms licence (PAL)Credit card, bank card, student card, ICBC interim licence, BC Transit ProPASS, Canadian Blood Services donor card, Pleasure Craft Operator Card

Rules that catch people out

  • The combined BC Driver’s Licence and Services Card counts as one piece, not two.
  • Expired and foreign ID is fine if it’s readable and you can recognize the person from the photo.
  • Photos of ID on a phone aren’t acceptable, says the LCRB: they’re hard to authenticate.
  • Only one piece of ID? Refuse service.
  • Buying for a minor is illegal too. If an adult gives a drink to a minor, refuse service to the whole group and take the alcohol away.

Spotting fake or borrowed ID

  1. 1

    Hold it yourself

    Don’t let the customer flash it. Take it out of any wallet or sleeve.

  2. 2

    Feel and look for tampering

    Bubbling, peeling, raised edges, an unusually thick card or uneven type, especially around the photo and birth date.

  3. 3

    Check the back

    Fakes often have a decent front and a photocopied back.

  4. 4

    Compare the face

    Look at cheekbones and the spacing of the eyes; hair and eye colour are easy to change.

  5. 5

    Check the second piece just as hard

    The name and signature should match the first piece.

  6. 6

    Ask questions

    A middle name, a postal code. The real owner answers without hesitating.

  7. 7

    Still unsure?

    Ask for a third piece, or have them sign and date a piece of paper to compare. If you still doubt it, refuse.

BC L and N licences print the date the holder turns 19 to make checks quick. The LCRB also runs a Minors as Agents Program: minors working for the branch, supervised by inspectors, try to buy liquor to see whether staff check ID.

Why it matters

The minimum penalty for a licensed establishment that serves a minor is a 7-day licence suspension or a $7,000 fine. An individual who isn’t a licensee can be fined up to $10,000 or jailed up to 6 months. Under the Act, the defence is having required the prescribed ID, examined it and had reason to believe it was real.

Practise with our checking ID drill.

Questions people ask

+How many pieces of ID do you need to buy alcohol in BC?

Two, when the server has any doubt you’re 19. One must be government-issued with your name, birth date and photo; the second must show your name and your signature or photo.

+Can you use an expired driver’s licence as ID in BC?

Yes, as long as it’s readable and staff can recognize you from the photo. You still need a second piece.

+Does the BC Services Card count as two pieces of ID?

No. The combined BC Driver’s Licence and Services Card counts as only one piece.

+Can I show a photo of my ID?

No. The LCRB says pictures of ID aren’t acceptable.

+What age do you have to be to drink in BC?

19. Anyone under 19 is a minor under BC liquor law.

Sources

Updated October 26, 2026. Not affiliated with the Government of British Columbia, the Liquor and Cannabis Regulation Branch or the Serving It Right program.

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