<P> This means that there is a separate agency (or agencies) in each province responsible for regulating the consumption of and, in all but one case, the sale of alcoholic drinks . Alberta is currently the only jurisdiction to have completely privatized its retail liquor industry (the AGLC maintains a monopoly over the wholesale distribution of wine, distilled spirits and imported beer - the distribution operation itself being contracted out to a private operator). Most of the other jurisdictions have maintained a total or near - total control over the sale of hard liquor while allowing limited privatisation of country - originated beer and wine sales . </P> <P> Following enactment of the British North America Act, the federal and provincial governments disputed which level of government had the authority to issue liquor licences . Due to the leadership of Ontario Premier Oliver Mowat, the British Privy Council ruled in favour of the provinces with regards to this and other jurisdictional disputes . As a result, it was generally left up to the provinces to enact Prohibition when the temperance movement was at its strongest in the early 20th century . When Prohibition failed to curb the liquor trade, each of the provinces chose to replace it with tight government control of the liquor trade that persists to this day in most provinces . </P> <P> In Canada, there is no federally defined age for legal alcohol purchase or consumption . Each province and territory is free to set its own drinking age . The legal age for purchase is: </P> <Ul> <Li> 19 years of age in BC, New Brunswick, Newfoundland and Labrador, Northwest Territories, Nova Scotia, Nunavut, Ontario, PEI, Saskatchewan, and Yukon </Li> <Li> 18 years of age in Alberta, Manitoba, and Quebec . </Li> </Ul>

What is the legal age to drink in canada
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