Under-25 Liquor Policy
The Under-25 (U-25) Liquor Policy helps reduce or eliminate situations where minors attempting to purchase or consume liquor are not asked for identification (ID).
Because it can be difficult to tell if an individual is 18 years old and therefore legal to enter a licensed premise or purchase liquor, the U-25 policy requires licensees to ask for approved ID from anyone who appears to be under 25 years of age. As a result of setting 25 as the age up to which ID is required, licensees are viewing the ID of more young adults and increasing the rate at which they prevent minors from purchasing or consuming liquor.
A key component of the policy for the past 10 years has been an audit of licensees, to ensure they are complying with the policy.
In 2002, only 23 per cent of licensees were complying with the policy. There was a significant improvement over the next year, with the 2003 audit finding 67 per cent of licensees in compliance. Subsequent audits demonstrated that the percentage of licensees asking those who appear to be under 25 years of age for ID has continued to increase. In the most recent audit (2008) the compliance rate was 83 per cent. This summer the AGLC will initiate the audit again, confident that compliance rates will remain high.
The licensee audit includes issuing two posters – “Hard to Tell. Have to Ask” and “It’s the Law” – to all Class A, B, C and D licensees (including duty-free stores), as well as advertisements during the first month of the audit, in Alberta’s major daily newspapers. The posters and advertisements serve to remind licensees, their staff and the public about this important policy.
The AGLC will continue to work with our industry partners to help ensure compliance with the policy and that the responsible sale and consumption of liquor is supported and encouraged.
Under-25 Liquor Policy posters:
Related resources:
Various liquor related associations operating in Alberta have also conducted public awareness campaigns including pamphlets,
stickers, buttons and in-store signage in order to address this issue.
AGLC’s liquor industry partners:
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