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Questions / Licensing and G1

Answer first · reviewed August 2026

What are the alcohol and cannabis rules for G1 drivers?

Short answer

Novice drivers must maintain zero blood alcohol. Driving while impaired by alcohol, cannabis or any drug is unsafe and can carry serious legal consequences.

Make it practical

What to do

Plan a no-driving option before consuming anything that could impair you, including medication that causes drowsiness.

Easy to miss

The common trap

Thinking ‘legal to consume’ means legal or safe to drive afterward.

Turn knowledge into a habit

How to practise it

Put the official requirement into a simple timeline, including eligibility, waiting periods and your expiry date. Administrative surprises are rarely educational.

When a rule, road sign or examiner instruction conflicts with an internet tip, use the official rule and the safe decision. The internet has many talents; wearing a reflective examiner vest is not one of them.

Check the answer

Sources and context

OfficialOntario graduated licensing requirements ↗OfficialOfficial MTO Driver’s Handbook ↗
Use the current official rule for the final word.

DriverReady explains public information in plain language. Requirements, test formats and procedures can change.

Useful next steps

Put this answer to work

Ontario licence stepsSee the full G1-to-G timeline.Preparation guidesTurn the rules into a practice plan.Local driving resourcesFind approved schools and nearby centres.

Keep going

Related licensing and g1 questions

How do I get a driver’s licence in Ontario?Most new drivers move through G1, G2 and then a full G licence. You start with vision and knowledge testing, practise under G1 conditions, pass the G2 road test, gain more experience and then pass the G road test.How old do you have to be to get a G1 in Ontario?You must be at least 16 to apply for an Ontario G1 licence. You also need acceptable identification and must pass vision and knowledge tests.How long do I have to wait from G1 to G2?The usual Level One wait is 12 months. Completing a government-approved Beginner Driver Education course can reduce it to eight months after the school records successful completion.How long do I have to wait from G2 to G?You normally need at least 12 months of Level Two experience before attempting the full G road test.