Behchoko residents vote to ban alcohol

People living in the Tlicho aboriginal community of Behchoko, N.W.T., have voted by a narrow margin to ban alcohol from their community.

In a plebiscite held Wednesday, 256 voters supported the alcohol ban, while 237 voted against it.

The plebiscite asked residents if "the consumption, possession, purchase sale and transport of liquor be prohibited" in the community, located about 95 kilometres north of Yellowknife.

Only a simple majority of votes was needed for the proposed ban to pass, under the N.W.T.'s current Liquor Act.

Under the territory's old liquor laws, an alcohol ban required 60 per cent support.

Behchoko, which includes the smaller communities of Rae and Edzo, has a combined population of about 2,000.