Age Verification for Retail Staff Course 2026
This course is for cashiers and store staff in Canada who sell age-restricted products such as tobacco, vaping products, cannabis, alcohol or fireworks. It covers who sets the legal ages, when to ask for ID, how to check it and how to refuse a sale. Some provinces require approved training before you sell alcohol or cannabis, such as AGCO-approved programs in Ontario; this course is background knowledge only and does not replace that training.
Kort svar
Den här gratiskursen har lektioner på cirka 30 minuter och ett prov med 25 frågor. Med minst 80 % kan du ladda ner ett kursintyg (privat, inte ackrediterat). Kontrollerad mot officiella källor den 13 oktober 2026.
Det här lär du dig
- Explain how federal and provincial laws set minimum ages
- Know when your province expects you to ask for ID
- Recognize acceptable proof-of-age documents
- Check an ID for tampering and work out the customer's age
- Refuse a sale politely and safely, including sales to adults buying for minors
- Respect privacy when you look at ID
Få minst 80 % för att ladda ner ditt certifikat.
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Fråga 1 av 25
Visa svar
Svar: C. 18
The Act defines a young person as a person under 18 years of age. Provinces may set a higher age.
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Fråga 2 av 25
Visa svar
Svar: C. Selling, lending or giving it, even for free
The Act defines furnish as to sell, lend, assign, give or send, with or without payment.
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Fråga 3 av 25
Visa svar
Svar: D. 21
P.E.I. requires retailers to verify that all customers are at least 21 before selling tobacco or vaping products.
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Fråga 4 av 25
Visa svar
Svar: C. 30
P.E.I. says any customer who appears under the age of 30 should be asked for ID to prove they are over 21.
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Fråga 5 av 25
Visa svar
Svar: A. Ask for ID and sell only if satisfied they are at least 19
Ontario bans selling tobacco or vapour products to anyone who appears under 25 without asking for ID and being satisfied they are at least 19.
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Fråga 6 av 25
Visa svar
Svar: C. AGCO-approved training such as Smart Serve
The AGCO requires liquor licensees and their employees, including grocery and convenience store staff, to complete approved training such as Smart Serve.
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Fråga 7 av 25
Visa svar
Svar: B. 21
Health Canada lists Quebec's minimum age for cannabis as 21, the highest in Canada.
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Fråga 8 av 25
Visa svar
Svar: B. 19
B.C.'s Liquor and Cannabis Regulation Branch defines a minor as a person under 19, and it is illegal to sell or supply liquor or cannabis to a minor.
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Fråga 9 av 25
Visa svar
Svar: D. 18
The AGLC Liquor Licensee Handbook defines a minor as a person under the age of 18, so the minimum age for alcohol in Alberta is 18.
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Fråga 10 av 25
Visa svar
Svar: C. 18
Natural Resources Canada says customers must be 18 or older to buy and use consumer fireworks. Only toy pistol caps may be sold to younger people.
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Fråga 11 av 25
Visa svar
Svar: C. A Canadian Armed Forces identification card
The Tobacco (Access) Regulations list a driver's licence, passport, photo citizenship certificate, permanent resident document, Canadian Armed Forces ID card, or other government ID with photo, birth date and signature.
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Fråga 12 av 25
Visa svar
Svar: A. No, proof-of-age ID must be valid and not expired
The AGCO says ID must be valid, government-issued and not expired. Alberta's AGLC also requires primary ID that is not expired.
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Fråga 13 av 25
Visa svar
Svar: C. Refuse, because photos and copies of ID are not acceptable
The AGCO says copies and photos of ID are not acceptable, and B.C.'s regulator says pictures of ID are hard to authenticate. Ask for the original card.
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Fråga 14 av 25
Visa svar
Svar: C. No, but you may accept it if they offer it
The AGCO says nobody can be required to show an Ontario Health Card, but staff may accept it if it is offered voluntarily.
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Fråga 15 av 25
Visa svar
Svar: D. The laminate has bubbles or is peeling
AGLC lists bubbles or peeling in the laminate, mismatched lettering and paper over numbers as signs of a fake or altered ID.
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Fråga 16 av 25
Visa svar
Svar: C. "What is the postal code on your ID?"
The AGCO and AGLC suggest asking details from the ID, such as the person's birthday, postal code or how to spell their middle name.
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Fråga 17 av 25
Visa svar
Svar: D. Refuse the sale, since you could not confirm their age
If you cannot confirm the customer's age, do not sell. The AGCO says to say no if the ID is not valid or not provided.
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Fråga 18 av 25
Visa svar
Svar: B. Check their ID, since looks and familiarity do not prove age
The AGCO tells staff not to rely on appearance, familiarity or how often someone visits.
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Fråga 19 av 25
Visa svar
Svar: B. October 13, 2007
Subtract the legal age from today's date. A customer born on or before October 13, 2007 is at least 19; someone born October 14, 2007 is still 18.
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Fråga 20 av 25
Visa svar
Svar: A. Politely say the law does not allow it and point to the sign
The AGCO and AGLC advise declining politely, explaining that the law prohibits sales to minors and referring to the signs.
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Fråga 21 av 25
Visa svar
Svar: C. Stay calm, get a supervisor and call police if needed
The AGCO advises staying calm and standing your ground, bringing in a supervisor or manager, and notifying police if necessary.
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Fråga 22 av 25
Visa svar
Svar: C. Refuse service, since you believe they are buying for minors
B.C.'s regulator says licensees must refuse service if they believe a customer is buying for a minor.
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Fråga 23 av 25
Visa svar
Svar: C. Looking at it is often enough; copying or scanning it generally goes too far
Their joint guidance says examining a licence is often enough for a business's purpose, and photocopying or scanning it generally goes too far.
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Fråga 24 av 25
Visa svar
Svar: A. Only if the seller took reasonable steps to check the buyer's age
The Cannabis Act says believing the person was 18 or older is not a defence unless the accused took reasonable steps to find out their age.
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Fråga 25 av 25
Visa svar
Svar: C. Supervised minors try to buy liquor or cannabis to see if staff check ID
In B.C., minors working for the Liquor and Cannabis Regulation Branch, supervised by inspectors, try to buy liquor or cannabis to check whether staff ask for ID.
Tangentbord: 1–4 för att svara, Enter för nästa fråga.
Bra att veta före provet
- Federal law bans furnishing tobacco or vaping products to anyone under 18, and furnishing includes selling, lending or giving them.
- In Ontario, it is illegal to sell tobacco or vapour products to anyone who appears under 25 without asking for ID and being satisfied they are at least 19.
- P.E.I. asks retailers to check the ID of any customer who appears under 30 before selling tobacco or vaping products.
- The minimum age for cannabis is 18 in Alberta, 21 in Quebec and 19 in the other provinces and territories.
- In B.C., supervised minors working for the Liquor and Cannabis Regulation Branch try to buy liquor and cannabis to check that stores ask for ID.
Vanliga frågor
Do I need special training to sell alcohol or cannabis?
In some provinces, yes. In Ontario, anyone who sells or delivers liquor needs AGCO-approved training such as Smart Serve, and cannabis store staff must finish approved training such as CannSell before their first day. This course does not replace that training.
Can I accept a photo of an ID on a customer's phone?
No. Ontario's AGCO says copies and photos of ID are not acceptable, and B.C.'s liquor regulator says pictures of ID are not acceptable. Ask for the original card.
Is an expired driver's licence good proof of age?
No. Regulators such as the AGCO and AGLC say proof-of-age ID must be valid and not expired.
Should I keep a copy of the customer's ID?
Usually not. Guidance from the privacy commissioners of Canada, Alberta and B.C. says that looking at a licence is often enough, and photocopying or scanning it generally goes too far.
Är intyget ackrediterat eller officiellt erkänt?
Nej. Det är ett privat kursintyg, bara för dina kunskaper. Det är inte erkänt, ackrediterat eller godkänt av någon myndighet, tillståndsmyndighet, tillsynsmyndighet eller utbildningsinstitution, och det ersätter inte någon licens, certifiering eller utbildning som krävs enligt lag.
Källor
- Tobacco and Vaping Products Act (Justice Laws)
- Tobacco (Access) Regulations (SOR/99-93)
- Government of Ontario: Rules for selling tobacco and vapour products
- AGCO: Tips for identifying minors
- AGLC: How to identify minors (tips for licensees and staff)
- Health Canada: Cannabis in the provinces and territories
- B.C. Liquor and Cannabis Regulation Branch: Minors as Agents Program
- Privacy commissioners of Canada, Alberta and B.C.: Collection of driver's licence numbers