Ontario is making it easier for clerks to verify the age of customer who want to purchase tobacco products. Effective January this year, Ontario driver’s licenses and phto ID cards issued to persons under 19 years of age will show the date that they turn 19. The words AGE 19/ANS followed by the date the person becomes 19, appear near the bottom of the license immediately to the right of the date of birth.
It is important to remember that it will take 2 or 3 years until everyone under 19 years of age has the additional information on their license or photo ID card. Until then, when you ask for ID from someone who wants to buy tobacco, but the date that they turn 19 is not present, you will still have to verify their age by using the date of birth on their drivers licence.
