Liquor permit prices drop

The price of liquor permits in Nunavut are taking a dive, making it easier for people to order alcohol from outside the territory.

In what appears to be an effort to bring the cost of alcohol in Nunavut down to the level it was at before division and make bootlegging more difficult, Finance Minister Kelvin Ng and Nunavut Liquor Board Chairman Raymond Kamookak imposed new regulations under the Nunavut Liquor Act.

As of Dec. 20, the price to import a litre of spirits went down to $3.75 from $8.77; a permit to import a litre of beer dropped to 56¢ from 70¢; a permit to import a litre of wine costs $2 instead of $7.02; and a permit to import coolers or ciders costs 59¢ per litre instead $1.75.

In addition to a price reduction on permit fees, the import permits will now be valid for only 21 days, instead of the previous regulation of three months in communities and a year in Iqaluit. Ng said 21 days is “a realistic time frame for an individual to order, ship and receive their liquor orders.”

All current liquor permits will expire no later than Jan. 10, 2002.

The board also imposed new regulations on the Special Occasion Permit. A maximum of two standard drinks per hour for each person attending an event is the limit. Kamookak said this is an effort to prevent over-serving and over-consumption of alcohol.