'Prohibition hasn't worked': Behchoko liquor ban up for vote

Residents of Behchoko, Northwest Territories, might get a chance to repeal a ban on alcohol in the community.

The restrictions,put in place in 2009, ban people from drinking, possessing, buying, selling, or transporting alcohol in the community. Those who are caught and charged can be fined up to $2,000 or spend up to 30 days in jail.

The council for the community government of Behchoko requested the territorial government hold a liquor plebiscite for the communityof about 2,000 people.

"The prohibition hasn't worked. We still have alcohol being brought into the community," said Clifford Daniels, chief of Behchoko.

"The RCMP are doing the best they can, but they can't be on the road having checkstops every day. They have other duties to perform.

"There is going to be an option out there for our citizens to see how they want to proceed."

Daniels said the plebiscite still needs to be approved by the territorial government, so no date has been set.

"If it is lifted, it gives direction to myself and council on other things," he said.

"Possibly some kind of treatment facility or counselling."

Ban passed by slim margin

The 2009 vote to ban alcohol in the communitypassed with a slim majority of 256 votes in favour, and 237 opposed.Daniels said the wording used in the plebiscite was confusing and he's unsure if the ban would have passed if clearer language was used. He said he'll ensure the wording is as simple as possiblethis time around.

Leon Lafferty was the chief of Behchoko when the ban passed.

"In 2009 I was not in big support of it, but I was the chief and I let the council decide what they wanted to do," he said.

"At that time there werea lot of tragedies they thought by having liquor prohibition it might help, but to this day it doesn't seem like it helped at all."

Lafferty said education efforts need to be stepped up in the school system to prevent excessive drinking.He also saidallowing drinking in the community may dissuade people from binge drinking on the streets.

"Binge drinking is the biggest key on why we have problems. If they were allowed to have social drinking and things like that I don't think there would be much binge drinking," Lafferty said.

"I think the community is doing the right thing. They are giving the people a choice. Giving the people a chance to vote on something."