Yellowknife (Mar 10/03) - Kugluktuk residents may vote be voting on restricting alcohol in their community.

They may also be voting on a committee which will have the power to restrict any individual's liquor consumption.

Under the Nunavut Liquor Act, communities have the power to develop an alcohol education committee.

"An alcohol committee can decide who may consume, possess or transport liquor," said Rachael Horn, community wellness co-ordinator for Kugluktuk.

The committee falls under the statutes of the restricted quantities system of the act.

The committee would be made up of locally elected individuals.

The group currently looking at restricting alcohol use in Kugluktuk met on Wednesday and will be forwarding its recommendations to hamlet council next Monday.

Horn said she didn't want to comment on what the recommendations are until council has time to review them.

She did say they are recommending two questions on the plebiscite.

One would look at restricting alcohol; the second would be to form the education committee.

If council accepts putting the questions to a plebiscite, Horn said, the vote would like be held in August.

"We want to make sure people are available to vote," she said, noting she fears if the plebiscite is held in the spring or summer months, many will be away on holidays.

Alcohol has been blamed for the majority of social problems occurring in the community, including suicide and crime.