SMARTSERVE Age Verification and Serving Minors 1 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: What is the legal drinking age in Ontario?
- 18
- 19 (Correct answer)
- 20
- 21
Correct answer: 19
The legal drinking age in Ontario is 19 years old, as set by the Liquor Licence Act.
Question 2: Under Smart Serve guidelines, a server should request ID from any customer who appears to be under what age?
- 19
- 21
- 25 (Correct answer)
- 30
Correct answer: 25
Smart Serve's 'Challenge 25' approach recommends asking for ID from anyone who appears to be under 25, providing a safety buffer above the legal drinking age of 19.
Question 3: Which of the following is an acceptable form of primary ID in Ontario?
- Student identification card
- Birth certificate
- Ontario Photo Card (Correct answer)
- Health card
Correct answer: Ontario Photo Card
The Ontario Photo Card is government-issued, includes a photo, and shows the holder's date of birth, making it a valid primary ID.
Question 4: What should you do if a customer presents an ID that appears to have been altered or tampered with?
- Accept it if the photo matches the person
- Confiscate the ID and call the police
- Refuse service and document the incident (Correct answer)
- Ask for a second piece of ID to supplement it
Correct answer: Refuse service and document the incident
When presented with a suspected fraudulent or altered ID, you should refuse service and document the incident — only law enforcement can confiscate someone's ID.
Question 5: A customer who looks young presents only a health card as identification. What should you do?
- Accept it since it is government-issued
- Ask for a government-issued photo ID instead (Correct answer)
- Refuse service immediately without further inquiry
- Accept it since it contains their date of birth
Correct answer: Ask for a government-issued photo ID instead
A health card is not acceptable as primary ID because it lacks a photo; you must ask for a government-issued ID that includes both a photo and a date of birth.
Question 6: Under the Liquor Licence Act, what are the potential consequences for selling alcohol to a minor?
- A verbal warning on the first offense
- A fine of up to $500
- Fines up to $100,000 and possible imprisonment (Correct answer)
- Temporary suspension of server certification only
Correct answer: Fines up to $100,000 and possible imprisonment
Selling or serving alcohol to a person under 19 is a serious offense under the Liquor Licence Act that can result in substantial fines and potential jail time.
Question 7: Who can be held legally responsible if a licensed establishment serves alcohol to a minor?
- Only the server who poured the drink
- Only the licensee or bar owner
- The server, manager, and licensee can all be held responsible (Correct answer)
- No individual — only the establishment is fined
Correct answer: The server, manager, and licensee can all be held responsible
Under the Liquor Licence Act, responsibility for serving minors extends to the server, manager, and the licensee, all of whom can face individual legal consequences.
SMARTSERVE Age Verification and Serving Minors 1
What is the legal drinking age in Ontario?