Alaska News

Arctic alcoholism: Canadians battle scourge with 'all of the above' strategy

The Liquor Task Force in the eastern Canadian Arctic territory of Nunavut is recommending a significant overhaul of the territory's liquor act.

Keith Peterson, the minister responsible for the Nunavut Liquor Commission, tabled the task force's report in the legislative assembly on Friday.

The review of the liquor act began in March 2009. The task force held community consultations across Nunavut, wrapping up in 2011.

The 195-page report called "Halting the Harm" has more than 50 recommendations, including cracking down on bootlegging, and liberalizing access to beer and wine while restricting access to hard liquor.

It suggests government-run beer and wine outlets, where communities have approved them.

The task force also wants to see more education and more treatment for alcohol abuse and is calling for more power for alcohol education committees.

This story is posted on Alaska Dispatch as part of Eye on the Arctic, a collaborative partnership between public and private circumpolar media organizations.

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