A group gathers. People take sides. Bouncers soon join in, caught in the middle trying to restore order in what resembles a rugby scrum.

When miner Hank Van Vulpen died after a scuffle with a bouncer on Nov. 3, the problem of violence in bars took on a whole new light. Fights are a common occurrence in city bars and pubs and the streets outside. Last year the Yellowknife RCMP spent 4,695 hours responding to 3,756 alcohol-related calls. The NWT chief coroner's report released in September indicated alcohol was involved in 58 per cent of accidental deaths last year. A 1996 survey by the NWT Bureau of Statistics reported that 28.8 per cent of the NWT population drink heavily, compared to 8.8 per cent nationally.

As quickly as the fight began, it ends. The combatants are thrown out.

It's a scene not uncommon in almost any bar in Yellowknife.

For bouncers, violence and aggressive behaviour is something they have to deal with on a nightly basis.

Andreas Tesfaye, head bouncer at The Gallery, braces for full moons and payday, common times for fights to break out.

"They usually (involve) younger white guys in packs of more than three" and just after government and welfare paydays.

"It's sad, but true," he said.

He's not so concerned about intoxicated aboriginal men. They are usually less aggressive than caucasian men who are under the influence of alcohol.

"You've got to really watch it. Most guys, when they get hit, the aboriginal guys, don't do anything."

It's not the same story for women. Tesfaye has learned over time that he should look out for them.

"There are a lot of very, very, very aggressive women. It's the women you've got to worry about.

"I've seen it so many times since I've been here. The women are usually extremely aggressive," said Tesfaye, who has worked at the bar for three years.

So how does he deal with it?

"It actually depends on the situation. If they're being aggressive it doesn't mean you have to be aggressive back.

"But if they punch or kick, it's pretty much open season," he said.

The first rule of bouncer interference is to try and talk the aggressor down and resolve the situation peacefully.

"But if they're really belligerent ... if they use very abusive language or get physical you've got to muscle them out the best you can," he said.

Usually bouncers put abusive patrons into a head lock and get them out of the bar, he said. Punches are rarely thrown, but he has been injured on several occasions. He has been bitten, jabbed, sucker-punched, stepped on, put into a head lock and has sprained several fingers and toes trying to evict unruly patrons.

"It just happens. You've just got to take it."

Prevention

To deter the violence, bouncers closely watch patrons who appear to be grossly intoxicated and warn bartenders and servers.

"If there's arguing or heated discussion, we usually ask people to take it easy or take it outside.

"But a lot of times (the violence) just comes out of nowhere ... usually the fights are extremely ridiculous.

"Half of the stuff is not even real. It's just a perceived comment or a perceived look, especially. That's a big one, 'someone is staring me down,' when most guys are wall-eyed and can't even see properly anyway."

A more visible RCMP presence on the streets would reduce the number of violent altercations, Tesfaye believes, but he's frustrated the police are often not around when they are needed.

"Nine times out of 10 they don't show up.

"I think a police presence would help. Just to show up half the time when we call would be even nicer," he said.

RCMP Sgt. Al McCambridge confirmed a majority of the violent crimes investigated in Yellowknife involved alcohol.

On any given night the RCMP's three drunk tanks and six cells house up to 100 individuals -- many drunk.

"Every weekend is different depending on what is going on in the community, the weather, cheque cycles and so on.

"Some weekends are busier and some are quieter, but generally our need to house people in the drunk tank is greater on weekends," he said.

There is no set capacity in the holding cells, but McCambridge said intoxicated individuals are held until sober and are no longer a danger to themselves or someone else. Those who are deemed aggressive are isolated from the others.

Louise Charbonneau, director of the federal prosecution service for the Department of Justice, said the answer to the problem does not reside within the criminal justice system.

"Locking everybody up forever is not the solution," she said.

From her experience in Yellowknife over the past 13 years, Charbonneau said, the role alcohol plays in a crime is neither looked upon by the courts as a mitigating or aggravating factor.

"Typically what happens is the fact that the person was intoxicated will be put forward to help show that the act was not a cold, planned thing.

"It's often offered by the defence as an explanation, not an excuse," she said.

McCambridge said the RCMP have developed a number of initiatives, such as extended patrols and the 50th Street Project in the summer months, but police cannot do the job alone.

"Alcoholism itself is recognized as a disease and the crime that stems from alcohol abuse can be looked at as a social and community problem rather than a criminal problem. The police are a key partner in finding a solution, but so are the legislators, social services agencies, licensed liquor establishments, the licensing boards themselves, educators and alternative justice co-ordinators and others," he said.

But Tesfaye said it's not something you can legislate as much as educate about.

"And you're not going to do it with pamphlets either," he said.