Alcohol, drugs and the law
Why novice drivers must be completely sober, and the penalties that follow if they aren't.
Impaired driving is the leading criminal cause of death in Canada, and the law treats it seriously. For new drivers the rule is the simplest one on the whole test: zero. If you hold a G1 or G2 licence — or you are 21 or under, whatever your licence — you must have no alcohol in your blood at all when you drive.
The limits that matter
- Zero for G1 and G2Any amount of alcohol is illegal while you hold a novice licence.
- 0.05 to 0.08 — the "warn range"Even below the criminal limit, a fully licensed driver faces penalties.
- 0.08 and overYou are impaired under the Criminal Code — this is a criminal offence.
What happens if you break it
A novice driver caught with any alcohol gets an immediate seven-day roadside licence suspension, and further penalties on conviction. Refusing to give a breath or blood sample is itself a criminal offence and brings an immediate 90-day suspension. A first Criminal Code impaired-driving conviction means losing your licence for a full year, plus fines and mandatory programs. Cannabis and other drugs carry the same kinds of penalties as alcohol.
There is no clever amount you can drink and still drive as a G1. The only number to remember is zero — it removes all guesswork.
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