Nunavut campaign aimed at curbing binge drinking visits Kivalliq communities
“The RCMP estimates that alcohol intoxication is responsible for up to 95 per cent of callouts and arrests in the territory”
This is a screenshot from an online video produced for the Government of Nunavut’s Let’s Be Aware/ Ujjiqsuqta campaign, which encourages responsible drinking.
The Government of Nunavut’s Let’s Be Aware / Ujjiqsuqta campaign, which encourages responsible drinking, will visit four Kivalliq communities over the next few weeks.
Representatives will visit Rankin Inlet on Jan. 24 to 26, Chesterfield Inlet from Jan. 26 to 28, Coral Harbour from Jan. 29 to 31 and Naujaat from Feb. 1 to 4.
The campaign stems from the recommendations of a report called Halting the Harm, prepared in 2012 by the Nunavut Liquor Act Review Task Force, which found that many Nunavut residents consider binge drinking to be normal.
“According to Halting the Harm, this binge-drinking culture is responsible for a significant number of individual, family and social problems,” states the Let’s Be Aware / Ujjiqsuqta website. “Domestic violence is of particular concern, and overall violent crime rates are more than double the national average. The RCMP estimates that alcohol intoxication is responsible for up to 95 per cent of callouts and arrests in the territory.”
“Halting the Harm also highlighted the devastating impact of alcohol use on families. The Department of Family Services estimates that 90 per cent of child protection cases are related to alcohol. Alcohol use has also been linked to high rates of Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder, depression and suicide in Nunavut.
“Let’s Be Aware / Ujjiqsuqta is not recommending that people do not drink alcohol. It is more about educating Nunavummiut on safe and socially responsible ways to drink alcohol that will reduce the harm for those who choose to drink. The vision is that Nunavummiut will have the knowledge and skills to practice moderation today, and encourage the responsible and safer use of alcohol for future generations.”
If you are part of a group or organization that’s interested in hosting a Let’s Be Aware / Ujjiqsuqta event, you can email responsiblenunavut@gov.nu.ca or ujjiqsuqta@gov.nu.ca.
For more information about the Let’s Be Aware/ Ujjiqsuqta campaign, visit www.ResponsibleNunavut.ca or www.ujjiqsuqta.ca, or visit the campaign’s Facebook page.
The question of how much drinking, if any, can be considered harmful or helpful is one I have been thinking about a lot more lately. It’s not hard to find research that supports almost any view you want on that, within reason of course. I am beginning to think no alcohol is the best option, though I have cut back considerably, I am not quite at abstinence yet either.
I have test-driven my alcohol consumption & frequency limits. 2x per week @ maximum 3-4 beers. No hard liquor. My limits. Everyone should establish reasonable limits for themselves. And then stick to them.
That sounds quite reasonable. I enjoy beer sometimes, but honestly prefer whisk(e)y. 2 days a week, no more than 2 whiskies seems to be about the limit I hope to see myself end up around.
The problem isn’t alcohol consumption per se; the major problem is the way it’s being drunk. If someone only drinks a beer or a single mixed drink or two, that isn’t a problem. The problem is the people who drop a good portion of a bottle of vodka or whatever all at once by themselves.
there is a difference between grabbing a 12 pack of beer to sip on over a weekend and enjoy the hockey game or UFC Fight and getting paid and buying a $200 40 oz or $300 60 oz bottle of vodka, opening it up, throwing away the cap and finish it in one sitting between 2 or 3 people.
that’s how people get hurt, pass out outside, get kicked out, get punched out, get falling down snockered, wake up in the drunk tank, dog with a black eye, no food on the table and worse yet, still thirsty the next day because you Cousin drank more of it than you did and he didn’t even chip in. so time for round two.
then by Wednesday, guess what, you need food, you need to pay your bills, you need, you need you need.
ask your other Cousin to borrow money, for food, for this.
we need to break this cycle.
Why are they going to Coral Harbour? It is a dry community and people there do not drink at all.