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KAHBAMIUE/COLVILLE LAKE
Colville Lake is planning to try an alcohol rationing system to try to establish a balance in the flow of liquor, a counsellor told News/North.

Sheena Kochon, with the community's counselling program, said the biggest problem in her community has been booze. This has been because of the prevalence of bootlegging recently, she added.

Due to concern from the public, the First Nation is putting together a rationing system that will limit the amount of alcohol brought in per person per week. It is expected the band will set a limit of 40 ounces of liquor or a case of beer once or twice a week, she said.

"In July the chief and council banned alcohol in Colville Lake because there was too much bootlegging going on, with one main bootlegger and another one doing it off and on," said Kochon, who added that this ban ended after a public meeting was held later in the summer.

Alcoholism has led to the RCMP dealing with alcohol-related assaults and more residents being medevaced with injuries, according to Kochon.

"After the ban, things really settled down and it seems the only time there is a real problem is when the bootleggers come to town with their booze and cases of 60s (ounce bottles)," she said. "That is when the problems begin."

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