Legal drinking and cannabis age by province, 2026

The legal age to buy alcohol is 19 in 10 of Canada’s 13 provinces and territories, while Alberta, Manitoba and Quebec set it at 18. Cannabis is 19 almost everywhere, 18 in Alberta and 21 in Quebec. The table below lists each government’s figure with a link to the source.

Updated Oct. 19, 2026: first edition. Every source was checked on that date.

Alcohol

Alberta, Manitoba and Quebec are the three jurisdictions where adults aged 18 can buy alcohol. Everywhere else the threshold is 19. The Alberta figure comes from the Alberta Gaming, Liquor and Cannabis commission’s special event licence guidelines, which define a minor as a person under 18. Quebec’s alcohol regulator says licence holders cannot sell alcohol to a minor and bars are closed to anyone under 18.

Several governments express the age through their rules for licensed businesses. Prince Edward Island’s Liquor Control Act bars supplying liquor to anyone under 19, Newfoundland and Labrador’s regulations bar licensees from selling to anyone under 19, and the Northwest Territories Liquor Act defines a minor as an individual under 19. New Brunswick’s Liquor Control Act refers to “the full age of nineteen years”. Yukon’s licensing page says minors are people under 19.

Cannabis

Health Canada’s page on provincial and territorial rules lists 18 for Alberta, 21 for Quebec and 19 for the other 11 jurisdictions. Each province and territory sets its own minimum age and retail model, so the federal page points readers to the local regulator for details.

Where the two ages differ

Manitoba is the only jurisdiction where the alcohol age (18) is lower than the cannabis age (19). Quebec has the widest gap, with alcohol at 18 and cannabis at 21. In Alberta both are 18, and in the other 10 jurisdictions both are 19.

Related coverage

Other reference pages from Canada News Media include 2027 statutory holidays by province, minimum wage by province and 2027 rent increase limits by province. Earlier reporting includes a look at cannabis retailers’ World Cup expectations.

How we compiled this

We read each government or regulator source linked in the table on Oct. 19, 2026. Some governments publish the age only inside licensing rules or legislation rather than in a stand-alone consumer statement, so the table links to the exact text we relied on. Cannabis figures come from Health Canada. Laws can change, so confirm with your provincial regulator before relying on this table for a legal decision. This page is information, not legal advice.

Cite this page: Canada News Media, Legal drinking and cannabis age by province, updated Oct. 19, 2026, https://canadanewsmedia.ca/legal-drinking-cannabis-age-by-province-canada/

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