A greater volume of alcohol is flowing into Kugluktuk and the has had respond to a growing number of alcohol-related complaints.
There were 143 more police files relating to liquor in the first five months of 2019 than in the first five months of 2018. Alcohol restrictions were officially repealed in the community on Dec. 14, following an Oct. 22 plebiscite in which 60.8 per cent of voters were in favour.
SA国际影视传媒淲e expected it to hit a peak sometime this spring but weSA国际影视传媒檝e never seen that peak drop yet,SA国际影视传媒� said Mayor Ryan Nivingalok. SA国际影视传媒淪ome people have got to remember that they have to learn how to consume their alcohol and drink responsibly.SA国际影视传媒�
Data from the territorial Department of Finance shows a rising volume of alcohol being ordered into the community since December, reaching 2,194 litres in March.
Kugluktuk MLA Mila Kamingoak said she has advocated in the legislative assembly for education campaigns in schools and through community meetings to give people a better understanding of the dangers of alcohol and cannabis. SheSA国际影视传媒檇 also like to see posters and commercials in place to help create broader awareness.
SA国际影视传媒淚tSA国际影视传媒檚 something we have to learn from as we go along,SA国际影视传媒� Kamingoak said.
Nivingalok said he remains hopeful this is a period of SA国际影视传媒済rowing pains.SA国际影视传媒� He referred to Baker Lake MLA Simeon Mikkungwak, who told Nunavut News that he was informed by residents in Rankin Inlet that it took a while for things to SA国际影视传媒渟ettle downSA国际影视传媒� in that community after alcohol restrictions were lifted.
Baker Lake voted in January 2018 to remove its liquor limitations and the measure took effect in April. Mikkungwak said the and Family Services staff were SA国际影视传媒渙verwhelmedSA国际影视传媒� by the resulting workload in the following months. Although he said it wasnSA国际影视传媒檛 SA国际影视传媒渁ll negative,SA国际影视传媒� he said there were more visibly drunken people in the streets.
Prior to Dec. 14 in Kugluktuk, the Alcohol Education Committee, comprising local residents, could limit orders to a maximum of two 60-ounce bottles and two 40-ounce bottles of spirits, 48 cans of beer
and four litres of wine every two weeks. The committee was disbanded when liquor restrictions were lifted.
NunavutSA国际影视传媒檚 Liquor Act allows the Department of Finance, which oversees liquor permits, to deny a permit to individuals on a prohibited list, which is generated through the courts. However, it is very rarely used, and there is currently no one on that list.
Several other Kugluktuk residents declined to speak on the record about changes theySA国际影视传媒檝e seen in the community over the past several months.
SA国际影视传媒淚SA国际影视传媒檓 hoping it levels out,SA国际影视传媒� Nivingalok said of the increase in alcohol-related criminal complaints.
Fact file
Alcohol-related complaints to the Kugluktuk
2019 (compared to same month in 2018)
January SA国际影视传媒� 60 files (up 37)
February SA国际影视传媒� 48 files (up 19)
March SA国际影视传媒� 108 files (up 54)
April SA国际影视传媒� 57 files (up 20)
May SA国际影视传媒� 72 files (up 13)
[the lifting of liquor restrictions took effect on Dec. 14]
Source:
Alcohol ordered into Kugluktuk (in litres)
September 2018 SA国际影视传媒� 1,181
October SA国际影视传媒� 1,397
November SA国际影视传媒� 1,446
December SA国际影视传媒� 1,640
January 2019 SA国际影视传媒� 1,805
February SA国际影视传媒� 1,840
March SA国际影视传媒� 2,194
*not including the personal exemption allowing residents to bring up to three litres of spirits, nine litres of wine or 26 litres of beer into the community with them on flights.
Source: Department of Finance
