Alcohol-related calls keeping Prince Albert police busy

Prince Albert, Sask., is fighting a battle against drunkenness and relatively cheap booze may be part of the problem.

Almost half of the arrests made last year in Prince Albert, Saskatchewan's third largest city,were for public intoxication.

In 2006, about 2,500 people were arrested for the offence in the central Saskatchewan city of 41,000. In contrast, in the fourth largest city, Moose Jaw, there were 98 people arrested for public drunkenness last year. Moose Jaw has about 32,000 people.

According to Insp. Al Fraser of the Prince Albert Police Service, a good chunk of police resources are taken up with calls concerning drunks. Public drunkenness charges have been steadily rising over the years and may account for more than 50 per cent of all charges this year, he said.

"Let's put it this way if there was no alcohol ever in this world, we wouldn't need that many police officers," he said. "The majority of our calls are alcohol related."

People in the city are looking for solutions.

Community activist Marlene Bear says part of the trouble is the availability of alcohol for people visiting from northern communities who don't normally have access to it.

"From what I gather, speaking to people in the North, you can buy a 26 [ounce bottle]of rye, vodka, whatever for $100," she said. "When they come into the city of P.A., this must be like hitting the jackpot you see alcohol at reasonable rates."

The city has taken steps to solve the problem. Alcohol counselling is being offered to people who have been arrested for drunkenness.