Kerry McCluskey
Northern News Services

IQALUIT (Nov 16/98) - Four weeks after Iqaluit's two main drinking establishments had their liquor licences suspended temporarily for repeatedly over-serving their patrons, the town's liquor inspector is trying to make some changes.

His first project is to implement the use of age identification cards for people who would otherwise have no valid proof of their age.

"It's identification people can use that is respected almost as much as a driver's license or a birth certificate," says Mike Mosley.

While the idea for the cards has been in the planning stages since the spring when the NWT Liquor Licensing Board (LLB) passed a zero tolerance policy which cracked down on serving minors, over-serving customers and overcrowding, Mosley says the cards will probably be issued sometime this month.

And, he explains, the process is relatively simple.

Residents who want to obtain the new card will have their photograph taken and will be required to supply Mosley with identification proving their age. He says a birth certificate or a social insurance number are both valid pieces of identification, but he insists that a note from a parent does not constitute proof-of-age.

If people do not have access to identification, Mosley says the RCMP can issue an affidavit, but he warns that this should be used only as a last option.

"We'd prefer people to have the identification rather than going to the police. It's going to drive them nuts."

But, while Mosley feels the new cards will help to alleviate some of the alcohol-related problems in Iqaluit, he says the bulk of the trouble is not caused by minors or young people. He says it's the town's older people who are abusing alcohol.

"The young ones like to go and dance and have a good time. The ones who get expelled from the bars are older, middle-aged people," says Mosley.

Once again calling on the town's leadership to provide healthier guidance, Mosley thinks the bar closure might just have startled both customers and servers into realizing how severe the alcohol abuse has become.

"People are really screwing not only themselves up, but their families," says Mosley.

Most businesses reported a decline in business that week and the RCMP also say their cells were relatively empty -- Mosley wants to believe that this is a good sign.

"It's like a new beginning and it's not just business as usual. If they continue to keep a lid on this, I hope someone like social services will look at what they can do in their area."