Société de l'assurance automobile du Québec
Société de l'assurance automobile du Québec
Behaviours

Responsibilities and Smart Solutions

If you are going out and intend to drink alcohol, leave your car at home and choose an alternative solution to get home. There are many! The important thing is to make a plan before heading out.

Alternatives

Public transit

Taking the bus or the metro, when possible, makes things easier. Be sure to check the schedule ahead of time.

Taxi or rideshare service

Remunerated passenger transportation services (taxi, Uber, Lyft, etc.) are diverse, efficient, modern and safe. Hail a vehicle by phone, using a mobile app or on the street!

Drive-home services

Operation Red Nose⁠⁠ ⁠ is offered during the holidays, and Tolérance Zéro⁠⁠ ⁠ and other drive-home services are offered throughout the year in various Québec regions.

These services are inexpensive and ensure that your car is in your driveway the next morning!

Designated driver

A designated driver is not the one who has had the least to drink. They are the one who has not had a drop of alcohol nor taken any drugs.

A few tips

  • When you are the designated driver, drive safely and remind your passengers to buckle up. This is for the sake of everyone’s safety.
  • In a group, take turns being the designated driver.
  • Never get a ride with someone who has been drinking or taking drugs.
  • Check to make sure your designated driver stays sober.

Counting on the hospitality of others

  • If you have been drinking, don’t hesitate to sleep over.
  • Insist that friends stay over if they can’t drive. If they resist, clearly state your disapproval and support those who intervene to help you. Persuasion is more effective as a group. 

A pact for life

Sign a pact for life (PDF, 356.9 KB)⁠ ⁠ (available in French only) with your friends or family. In the pact, each person promises not to drive while impaired and offers their services to go and get the other person at any time.

Care or control of a vehicle

The law not only prohibits impaired driving, but also having the care or control of a vehicle while impaired. Here are some situations that can have the same consequences as impaired driving:

  • sitting in the driver’s seat, even if the vehicle is stopped or broken down
  • being in the vehicle (even asleep on the back seat) and having the possibility of starting the engine
  • being near the vehicle, for example to brush snow off the car or put things in the trunk

The police officer will assess whether it was possible for the person to drive the vehicle and whether they intended to do so.

Party safely: Responsibilities of organizers or hosts

Nine tips for organizing a party

  1. Suggest that your guests travel in groups and choose a designated driver.
  2. Organize contests or draws exclusively for designated drivers.
  3. Offer water and non-alcoholic drinks to your guests so they can alternate.
  4. Display the phone number of a taxi company, rideshare service or drive-home service.
  5. Serve snacks high in fat and protein (such as dips or cheese on unsalted crackers). Compared to chips, pretzels and other salty foods, they make people less thirsty and therefore less likely to drink more alcohol.
  6. Use a jigger to measure drinks, not guesswork.
  7. Don't drink too much yourself, so you can keep control of the party.
  8. At the end of the evening, offer coffee, tea, water or fruit juice instead of “one more for the road.”
  9. Never let anyone drive impaired. Take them home, have them stay the night, take away their keys or give them money for a taxi, but don't let them leave in their car. Insist on it, make it clear that you disapprove and stick up for others who intervene. If you all insist, it is even better and more effective!

Non-alcoholic drinks

There are many alcohol-free beers and wines available. A simple web search can help you find thousands of tasty and refreshing mocktail recipes. Plan ahead!

Alcohol permit

In terms of the law, the Act respecting offences relating to alcoholic beverages⁠ ⁠, the Act respecting liquor permits⁠ ⁠ and the Civil Code of Québec⁠ ⁠ set out penalties for a liquor permit holder who does not demonstrate responsible behaviour towards guests or customers who have had too much to drink.

A few tips

  • Do not give away free alcoholic drinks.
  • Avoid “two for one” specials.
  • Do not give alcoholic drinks as prizes.
  • Ban chugging contests and other drinking games and competitions.
  • Organize contests or draws exclusively for designated drivers.
  • Offer designated drivers non-alcoholic drinks.

Last update: February 19, 2026