Temporary liquor prohibition takes effect Sunday in Kugluktuk
Mayor says objective is to ensure children enjoy a safe Christmas with their families
From Dec. 18 to 31, alcohol sales will be temporarily banned in Kugluktuk after the hamlet council passed a temporary prohibition resolution. (File photo by Dustin Patar)
For a two-week period over Christmas, people won’t be able to order or purchase alcohol in Kugluktuk.
From Dec. 18 to 31, the community will be under a temporary liquor prohibition after the hamlet’s council passed a special resolution implementing the ban.
During that time, no liquor orders or import permits will be allowed.
Mayor Simon Kuliktana said the community has had Christmas-time liquor bans before, but not in recent years.
The ban is meant to ensure young people in the community are able to enjoy a holiday season without the presence of alcohol, Kuliktana said.
“Hopefully it will cut down the influx of booze, especially during the holidays,” he said.
“The community wants to make sure the holidays [are] meant for the children.”
The temporary ban is in line with a section of Nunavut’s Liquor Act, which allows communities to pass a “special prohibition resolution.”
According to the law, special prohibitions allow communities to ban consumption, possession, purchase, sale or transport of alcohol for a period of up to 14 days.
In May, Kugluktuk residents voted to change the hamlet’s liquor rules from “unrestricted” to “restricted.” Under the new rules that came into effect in September, residents are limited to the following imports or purchases, once every two weeks:
- 1.775 litres (60 ounces) of spirits, and either:
- 48 containers x 355 ml or less of beer, or other liquor with no more than eight per cent alcohol per volume; or
- 3.75 litres of wine.
Kuliktana said the community saw a brief jump in bootlegging after the new rules took effect, but it eased off as people learned how to make alcohol purchases through the proper channels.
Despite another change in the rules, which will be short and temporary, Kuliktana said he believes there won’t be very much bootlegging going on around Christmas, if any.
“It was a learning curve after the status changed, but I think it will be almost normal,” he said.
“There might be some, to some extent, but not what I figure would be a high number.”
People in Kugluktuk will have a lot of options to stay busy during the prohibition period. The hamlet’s website is highlighting an extensive calendar of Christmas events over the final two weeks of December, including meals, an Elf movie night, Christmas games and family dances.
“I hope everyone enjoys a safe holiday over the break,” Kuliktana said. “I just hope everybody has a safe Christmas.”
Will cannabis imports also be prohibited during this time? Will there be a ban on the well known and well advertised illegal gambling as well? I can’t wait to hear how Mr. Mayor plans to address those issues to ensure a safe and happy Christmas for all.
Why ban cannabis? What problems does it cause?
Your anonymous name answers that question.
Do some research on vaping while your at it.
A typical Paul comment. Void of content. It seems whenever you have nothing insightful or interesting to say, which happens a lot, you attack a persons anonymity, as if that is a useful substitute for making an actual point. What a sad spectacle you make of yourself.
Agree, forever responding to someone’s comments.
Keep vaping , anonymous keep vaping.
“Your” is possessive and “you’re” is a contraction if you are. Anonymously correcting grammar.
Well done Hamlet of Kugluktuk. We need this for our kids.
Now if the citizens know of anyone bootlegging or dealing, report them to the RCMP.
Our kids deserve that much once a year.
On the other hand, this could be seen as a failure of the population to control their liquor consumption without the Nanny State having to impose restrictions.
Where else in Canada is it thought to be necessary to do this?
Exactly what it is Jimmy. Unfortunately, the bootleggers and dealers probably expected this and upped their inventory. And now it is up to the community to report them.
Much needed break.
There are lots of bootleggers in Baffin Island because Nunavut liquor management in Rankin Inlet only answer the phone once a week for many years now.
Only the dry towns should control the liquor orders, they’d be around to answer the phones.
It isn’t working ….because my friend just received his case of whiskey for the holidays …merry Christmas