Quebec's legal drinking age isn't going to change, Legault says

Premier FranoisLegaultsays his government isn't looking at changing the legal drinking age in Quebec.

His junior health minister, Lionel Carmant, brought up the idea Thursday morning in an interview on CBC Montreal's Daybreak.

But Legaultsaid later in the day the idea is a non-starter.

"We have no intention to change the age for alcohol," he told reporters at the National Assembly.

On Wednesday, the Quebec government tabled a bill that would raise the legal age to buy and possess cannabis to 21, up from 18. The legal age to drink and buy cigarettes in Quebec is 18.

During theDaybreakinterview, Carmant, who is a doctor by profession, was asked how it makes sense to raise the cannabis age, but leave the alcohol age as is.

He said there is an opportunity to make the change with cannabis now, since it has been legal for such a short period of time.

Carmantsaid the dangers posed by alcohol are different from cannabis, but still present, and if what we know about it now had been known when it was legalized, the legal age might never have been set to 18.

Daybreak host MikeFinnerty then asked Carmant whether the age to drink alcohol should be changed.

"Well, that's a debate we should have. Same thing with tobacco," Carmant replied.

Listen to the exchange:

What should the legal age to buy cannabis in Quebec be?

6 years ago

Duration 1:24

The Coalition Avenir Qubec government will officially raise the legal age to buy cannabis 21.

Later in the morning, Carmant said he doesn't think there will be a debate on drinking age right now.

"Let's deal with cannabis first," he said.

No evidence age change will work, minister says

The legal age to buy, possess and consume cannabis in Quebec is currently 18. The new Coalition Avenir Qubecgovernment wants to increase it over concernsabout the drug's long-term impact on young peoples' mental health.

It cited findings in the medical community for those concerns.

Groups representing Quebec psychiatrists, medical specialistsand emergency physicianshave applauded the CAQfor its proposal to raise the legal cannabis age.

But Carmant said there is no scientific evidence that fewer adolescents will use cannabis if the legal age is increased.

He said the move is meant to "send a message that we're not going to deal with cannabis the same way we've dealt with alcohol and tobacco."

He also said the key to lowering the number of young people using cannabis is through prevention campaigns.

Listen to the full Daybreakinterview with Lionel Carmant below:

Decisions based on ideology,Opposition says

Liberal health critic AndrFortinsaid Carmant'scomment is an example of the CAQ's ideology-driven policies.

"He's saying we're not apt at 18 years old to make a decision on our well-being, whether it's tobacco, whether it's alcohol, whether it's cannabis," he said.

Parti Qubcois MNAVroniqueHivonsaid she believes the CAQ has taken a very "paternalistic" approach to the legal age question, and that raising the age is not good public policy if the goal is reducingconsumption.

"When you decide as a society that 18 years old is the age of majority, how [can]you decide that for certain things, it's not good enough?" she said.

The age of majority across Canada used to be 21, but that changed in the early 1970s. For more on the age of majority in Quebec, watch the video below.