ID for drinking in toronto?

Question

I'm from the US and I will be going to school in Toronto in the fall and I will be turning 19 in January. My sister is 22 and she isn't allowed to drink even if she shows her driver's license, but she shows her passport to the bartender and she is allowed. Is there any other way to get drinks by any other US ID? I don't want to lose my passport while I'm drunk.

Answer 1

Most bars in Toronto don't like American driver's license's just because there are lots of Canadian kids who get American driver's license's and use them as their fake I.D's. A passport is your best option, just because they are harder to fake (obviously). Most bars require government issued photo identification...so I'm really not sure what else you could use. What other forms of government identification do you have?

Answer 2

You can get a LCBO ID card.

LCBO is the Ontario alcohol vendor. You can drop by any LCBO location and pick up an application, and they will issue you a card with your age.

All the bars accept LCBO IDs.

Answer 3

Try to, as soon as you get here, to get an LCBO ID card. Meanwhile, use your passport and keep a photocopy of it in a safe place in your dorm room/apartment. Likely, if you lose it you won't need a replacement for a few weeks anyway.