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My son will be traveling to Montreal with a large group of his 18 year old friends for a senior trip. They'll be going in 2 weeks and he falls just a month short of being 18, (His birthday is in April). My question is: what is the deal with being carded at liquor stores, bars, clubs and casinos? I understand that YES, this isn't Europe and it isn't as laxed in Canada but still I feel like the rules in MTL are more elastic than where we're from in Massachusetts. I'm just wondering what he'll be able to do in regards to the rest of his friends being of the legal age and if this is a serious problem sending him there.
WHY would any business take that chance ? They don't.
They DO check each individual's ID and for sure they will check a large group of US male teens. Yes visitors to Quebec are important, but so is being open not closed due to a Police or Alcohol Board criminal charge.
My best advice, is don't let him go. By doing that, he will not have the opportunity to get into trouble.
Quebec will still be there , next year, when he will be of legal age to drink there.
WHY would any business take that chance ? They don't.
They DO check each individual's ID and for sure they will check a large group of US male teens. Yes visitors to Quebec are important, but so is being open not closed due to a Police or Alcohol Board criminal charge.
My best advice, is don't let him go. By doing that, he will not have the opportunity to get into trouble.
Quebec will still be there , next year, when he will be of legal age to drink there.
So you're telling me there's absolutely zero chance he goes up there and can enjoy Montreal with his buddies? I understand the legal drinking age, I'm more so asking what are the chances that he'll be able to get into bars, clubs, casinos, etc.
So you're telling me there's absolutely zero chance he goes up there and can enjoy Montreal with his buddies? I understand the legal drinking age, I'm more so asking what are the chances that he'll be able to get into bars, clubs, casinos, etc.
Yeah, he needs to wait one more month, when he turns 18, weather in Montreal
will be much better then too.
I am going to temper what others have said here - it almost sounds like it's the police responding to you.
To be perfectly honest, depending on what the 17 year old kid looks like, he'll probably get in without ID being checked at about half the places they try. If they don't absolutely have to go to Bar X or Bar Y, then I am sure they'll find enough places to have a good time as there are a gazillion bars in Montreal.
Touristy parts of town like Crescent are kind of a double-edged sword. On the one hand they are the places where they check ID the most. But these are also places where a bunch of Americans won't stick out too much from the crowd.
Places where their clientele is more local may not check ID as much but OTOH a dozen American boys might stick out in some places like a sore thumb.
Lots of young people in Montreal start going out to bars at 15-16. But of course they speak French to the doormen and "fit in".
It's also easier to get into bars for underage girls than it is for underage boys. Of course.
It's much easier for people who are slightly younger than eighteen to get into many establishments in Montreal than it is in Toronto; at least that is the way it was when I was that age.
I used to have to borrow ID to go into clubs/bars in Toronto, but in Montreal, I didn't.
I am going to temper what others have said here - it almost sounds like it's the police responding to you.
To be perfectly honest, depending on what the 17 year old kid looks like, he'll probably get in without ID being checked at about half the places they try. If they don't absolutely have to go to Bar X or Bar Y, then I am sure they'll find enough places to have a good time as there are a gazillion bars in Montreal.
Touristy parts of town like Crescent are kind of a double-edged sword. On the one hand they are the places where they check ID the most. But these are also places where a bunch of Americans won't stick out too much from the crowd.
Places where their clientele is more local may not check ID as much but OTOH a dozen American boys might stick out in some places like a sore thumb.
Lots of young people in Montreal start going out to bars at 15-16. But of course they speak French to the doormen and "fit in".
It's also easier to get into bars for underage girls than it is for underage boys. Of course.
Thank you, I appreciate your honest and authentic answer. That's exactly what I was looking for.
One thing that I think was already mentioned is that young American men (under 21) have a reputation in Quebec for not holding their liquor well and for making trouble in bars. As a result some bars may screen them more stringently for IDs in order to keep them out. But it's certainly not every bar that would do this, and it's not as if it's a one-horse town.
So you're telling me there's absolutely zero chance he goes up there and can enjoy Montreal with his buddies? I understand the legal drinking age, I'm more so asking what are the chances that he'll be able to get into bars, clubs, casinos, etc.
Odd attitude from a parent that is comfortable with their child going up to Montreal with 12 other kids where the sole reason for the trip is to get drunk and party at bars and clubs.
Some bars and clubs will card the kid some wont bother,Getting booze shouldnt be a problem for your son as i presume the entire entourage will not be going into the liquor store en masse just one or two of the party who are of legal age will buy the booze then take it back to the hotel room where the rest of the group (son included) will participate in the merriment.
Be aware your childs actions on this trip could have future implications on his re-admissibility into Canada.
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